Birthday

Date: January 9, 2012

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Araujo

From: São Paulo, Brazil

Hey guys,
So I stayed here in Paraíso with Elder Araujo. It´s still me and the three Brazilians. I´m pretty happy to stay, my comp is a cool guy and I like the members here. This week we found some good people, most of them didn't go to church. but we did take Ingrid´s sister. shé seems like a baptism. But yeah it´s crazy!!! I´ll pass 6 months in this area. but I´m whatevs. We´ve got some good investigators so it´ll be good. it´s just getting people to church that´s the problem.


Thanks for the happy birthdays! it´s crazy I´ll be 21. The time is flying by. Tonight we´ll go to Vanessa´s house to celebrate my birthday. we´ll have a family home evening.

That sucks Isaac broke both wrists. that would be terrible...

Today I got the Gubler´s package tell them thanks! It was nice to here from them.

How´s Brian doing in St. George? I hope he´s good. have him email me this week. who´s he living with??

It´s hotter than ever here in Maceió. I hate the heat. January and February are the worst. It´s super humid here too.

I hope Lym heals up quickly. thanks for the bracelets!

Next week I´ll take my companion to eat Açaí for my birthday.

But yeah guys I´m doing great, just trying to take advantage of my time here! I know that this Church is true and that Jesus Christ is our savior. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet.

Until next week!
Bradley

Happy New Year!

Date: January 2, 2012

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Araujo

From: São Paulo, Brazil

Hey Guys...
I hope that everyone had a great week and a good new years!!!!
This week we had the ward party... it was cool we went to both ward parties. one of them had a mechanical bull, it was fun.

This week the other ward had a missionary get home. it was really awesome. He got home and baptized his dad on the same day, he got home at like 11: 30pm and went straight to the church and at like midnight he baptized his dad. President let us go to the baptism and I did the baptismal interview for him. The guy had been investigating the church for over 10 years, and he´s wanted to be baptized for a while now but he wanted his son to do it.

Transfers are this coming week. I feel like I´ll probably get transferred. Transfers will be on the day of my birthday.
I got my packages this week, thanks!!!! It's nice to have new shoes and socks!!! tell Lym thanks for the bracelets, a lot of people have been asking for them... I sent my Christmas cards today, so they will be late but whatever.

Our neighbors had a huge party this weekend, it went on forever and they had super loud music playing for a few days!!! it was way hard to sleep. this week was way hard to work because everyone was drinking and partying.

Have fun in St. George Brian! be good buddy!
I hope dad´s work is going good, have fun working in Nevada this week.



It was awesome to talk to everyone on Christmas... I'm glad that the Internet worked and everything!! You all look good!!! It´s crazy that my mission is almost coming to an end!!! it´s going by so fast!!!

but anyways I love you guys!!!



Be safe

Elder Ludlow

Merry Christmas!

It was great to skype with Elder Ludlow on Christmas, He looks really good.
It was fun to hear him talk about the people he has grown to love and all of the neat experiences he's had.
I'm amazed at how much his testimony has grown! and he's not my shy little Bradley any more.
We had Derek and Jannette and thier cute little kids come over and see him, (He can't believe how big Sadie is getting, - She will turn 1 the same day he turns 21) Dean and Jill and their kids came over too, cute little Kevin is always asking about him, We had a few of his friends come over.
It was fun talking about him coming home and his plans for collage and stuff.
I can't believe we only have four months left.
I Hope everyone had a Great Christmas, - I did!
With Love,
Jodi

Trip to Arapiraca for p-day

Date: December 19, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Araujo

From: São Paulo, Brazil

Hey Fam!!

Today I went to Arapiraca. It was cool to see my first area and visit the people that I met there. It was just a long, tiring pday.

But it´s going good here. the work is going okay... the closer it gets to Christmas the more people are partying and drinking. But we found a 2 great families this week. just that one of them had family in town and we couldn't get a hold of the other so no one went to church. This week I did a division with Elder Rowland. He´s supper cool. My companion, Elder Araujo  is awesome, he teaches really well and gets along well with everyone.
So they called wanting to know about my flight plans. I told them that you guys might come pick me up and he said to figure it all out on Christmas...

I´ll call to mark a time for the phone call. it might have to be on Saturday. I´ll let you know though.

I hope it snows for you guys this Christmas... it so muggy and hot here... but I remember I suffered way more last year. I´m getting used to it I guess.

Bubba's long board videos are cool. He´s gonna have to teach me when I go home.

I´ve been thinking a bunch about what I´m gonna do when I go home. It´s getting super close. I gotta have a plan for school and stuff.

I´m gonna read All of Doctrine and covenants. I´m gonna start with section 138 and go backwards for the last 138 days of my mission.

That's about it... i don't have a lot of time today, plus I´ll talk to you this week. but I love you all and I´m learning a lot and loving my mission. be safe!!!
Love, Bradley

Ingrids Baptism

Date: December 12, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Araujo

From: São Paulo, Brazil



Elder Araujo, Ingrid, Elder Ludlow

Hey family!!!
This week was a good week! We had quite a bit of success and baptized Ingrid this week. She was really happy and excited. We let Elder Rowland baptize her. It was his first Baptism on the mission. We baptized her at stake conference. It was via satellite. Elder Ellis, Silvia Allred, Elder Eyring, and Elder Christoferson. They spoke to everyone in the northeast of Brasil. It was good. We had Edjane´s baptism marked for the same day. We did the interview and everything, but she said her mom was sick on the day of the baptism. We´ll try and baptize her this Saturday.



Elder Araujo, Elder Rowland, Ingrid, Elder Ludlow



This week we played a joke on Elder Rowland. We hung up this super ugly fruit on the wall called jaca; it seriously looked like some kind of animal. It was super funny he freaked out when he saw it. I´ll send a pic.



Super ugly fruit called Jaca



That´s awesome that Julie went to the temple. I bet that was awesome to see her and Joe there.

I´ll write grandma a letter. She said she wants another pic.
I sent a letter to KY like 2 weeks ago; she should get it any day. That’s good that she´s going to institute. I´m excited for institute and stuff.

This Wednesday I´ll go renew my visa. I’ve got to go to the federal police to do it.

I´m stoked for Christmas! It´s coming up fast. I just don’t know if the internet is fast enough here to use Skype. I´ll figure it all out though.

Bubbas video was good, he´s getting good. Bubbs should make some more longboard videos and send them to me, and Brian playing guitar.

I´m doing good! My companion is awesome. He´s super humble and teaches way good. We´ve had some awesome lessons this week.

But one thing is that my comp broke our toilet. It apparently wasn’t screwed down and he knocked it over and it shattered. lol

There´s a couple of families that I love here, I'll take some pictures
Oh and I forgot tomorrow is the mission Christmas party. The whole mission will be together, that’s never happened before so I’m stoked

I love you guys!! I´m doing well!
Have a great week.
Elder Ludlow

New Companion

Date: December 5, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Araujo

From: São Paulo, Brazil

Hey guys!!!!


So, I got my new companion! Elder Araujo from São Paulo. He´s a way cool guy. He has 3 months on the mission. He has only like a year and a half in the church. He´s an awesome guy. We have been working great together and we have already had a ton of success. We are still working with Edjane, we´ll try and baptize her this week. She knows the church is true, it´s just the question of leaving her church. We also found a girl named Ingrid that went to church a bunch already and went yesterday. We marked her baptism for this week also. We are also working with Eliene, but she´s got to get married... we´re going to have a family night to make friendship with her husband. I love that family! They have 3 kids that are all members; they always ask me to baptize their mom. And also her sister Luciana. Her baptism is marked for the 17th and she has a daughter that will be baptized with her.



We´re also teaching a lady who´s son got shot this week. We went to visit her and said a prayer for her son, and we went back the next day and he had died. So we´ll go back and teach the plan of salvation.



It´s almost Christmas! Everyone is starting to buy trees here and put lights up on their houses. And it´s getting so hot.



That´s awesome that Julie and Joe are going to the temple, I wish I was there to go! I miss the temple.



My companion lost his wallet this week on the day we took out money. So he has nothing till the 15th. I´m helping him out and so are the others in the house.



Elder Becker left the house. I´m going to miss my red headed friend, and now Santána is training, so we have a new missionary in the house. His new companion is Elder Rowland, from Sacramento. He´s cool. It´s funny to remember my first transfer in the mission, I´m still district leader, it´s been like almost 6 months. But I like it.

I got a card from you guys, Grandma Hall, Kylee and the Nottingham’s. Tell them all thank you and I´ll write back this week.



I´m going to the office on Thursday to renew my visa. it’s been expired since I made a year.



That’s about it I’m doing good and I’m excited to baptize and it looks like it´ll be a great transfer.



Love you guys, I know this church is true. Have a great week!!!!



Love you!!
Elder Ludlow

Less than 6 months

Date: November 28, 2011
Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Devitry

From: Smithfield, Utah

I have less than 6 Months on the Mission
Hey Guys!
How was everyone´s week? I Hope that everyone had a great thanksgiving. That sucks Brian had to work. We didn´t do anything really, we didn´t even have lunch on that day so we just made lunch at home.

Transfers are this week. I´m staying here in the area and my companion was transferred, so I´ll pass Christmas and my birthday here. I´m curious to know who my new companion will be.

I´ve already got Christmas planned out to use a member´s computer. I just hope the internet is fast enough. I´m pretty sure the chapel has Wi-Fi, so we might take a laptop down there.

So this week we continued to teach Edjane. She told us about her brother that was a member of her church but got into drugs, and about a year ago he got shot. Her other brother also is into drugs and stuff. That church believes that once you are baptized, and you commit serious sins like that, you can’t repent and are going to hell. So we taught her and showed her a bunch of scriptures, and she believes what we teach, but she still doesn´t want to get baptized. She´s had multiple answers that the church is true, but she doesn’t want to go against her family and her church, so it´s complicated, but she went to church and everything.
We found a few other people, but they didn´t go to church. There´s also a really cool lady were teaching, Eliene, but she needs to get married. So I´m gonna keep working with the people that are progressing and I´ll have to find a whole new group.

I hope it starts snowing there for dad to plow.
That’s awesome that the raiders are doing good, I´m excited to watch a football game.
It’s just soccer here 24/7.

My companion has to get all ready to go and say goodbye to some people. So I don’t have a lot of time today.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love, Bradley

Happy Thanksgiving

Date: November 21, 2011

Area: Paraíso, Alagos

Companion: Elder Devitry

From: Smithfield, Utah

Hey guys!

Nothing new this week, I got super sick this week, I had a fever of 101so I spent like 3 days in my bed, I couldn't even get up. I´m feeling a lot better now. Still kinda weak and my back and legs are sore. I dunno what it is that I got.
Edjane was progressing really well, but then she just stopped, and she didn´t go to church on Sunday, I don't know what happened to her. I didnt teach her, I was on a division doing a baptismal interview, but we´ll go back and see what we can do.

We are also teaching a few other people but they all need to be married. there´s a lady named eliene she wants to get baptized a lot but she´s gotta get married.

This week is Thanksgiving!! I don't know what we´re gonna do, nobody in the house has money. but we´ll probably get a little dinner together.

I bought some boots. they seem pretty good. they were like 50 reais, they will probably last me the rest of my mission.

It´s full out summer here... I can´t take the heat!!!

I got that halloween package. thanks for the candy and letters.

I might need some more money if I get transferred next week, our lunch falls a lot in this area and so I´ve had to spend a lot of money on food here... I´ll find out this Saturday about transfers.

I´m glad its snowing there, I hope its still snowing in May when I get home too.

Thats about it, I love you guys and I know this church is true, The Book of Mormon is true, and that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that God has a plan for us.

Have a great week and be safe
love,
Elder Ludlow

Church of the Veil

Date: November 14, 2011

 Area: Paraíso, Alagos

 Companion: Elder Devitry

From: Smithfield, Utah



11-10-11



     Hey guys, How´s everyone doing?

I’m doing good. This week was great, It started off really slow, trying to find new people to teach. But we ended up with a lot of lessons, we taught Edjane and she is progressing really well, it’s just that her parents don’t want anything to do with us... she invited us to her church (Church of the Veil) and it was just terrible, everyone yelling and stuff.. They have trumpets and trombones and saxophones. super weird. The women wear veils and the men sit on one side and the women on the other. The pastor was yelling and speaking in ''strange languages'' like gibberish, but we met some of her friends there and she brought 3 people to church, so we had 5 this week. On Wednesday we will invite her to be baptized I’m just nervous cause of her parents, but she really understands what we teach her, and I think she knows what we are teaching her is true.

I also did an interview this week for Boa Vista, the other branch. The lady had so many problems! I felt like a bishop, The zone leaders went to my district mtg. and they will do a division with us on Thursday. Tomorrow we have zone conference.

Today we didn’t really do anything, but 2 elders came to visit people here, and so we went to lunch with them at a member’s house. Next week we´re gonna go to this alligator pond. A member will take us. ´

Our House



My Bed



  But I’m doing good, working hard and having a blast!!!!

 I am loving the mission!!!!

I love you all! Be safe.

Elder Ludlow 



Banana Tree growing in our backyard, waiting for them to grow so we can eat them





11-10-11





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