Final Week at the Brazil MTC

Hi everyone!

Yes, I am excited, nervous, anxious, etc. [regarding heading to Campinas]. I still love the CTM but I do want to get out and start working my butt off. It's difficult (for me at least) to really work rigorously here. There's so many distractions. But I'm learning what I can and hopefully my Portuguese will be adequate by the time I leave. I have no idea what to expect in my first area - except that I know I will be giving a talk on my first Sunday there, in Portuguese of course...that might be the thing I'm most worried about.

So, as far as I know I will be leaving Tuesday (June 5th) in the late morning or something.  I'll be on a bus with around 7 or so Americanos and I don't know how many Brazilians. Actually probably a mission vehicle. We might stay the night at the mission home but I'm not sure how that will work.

So real quick, some stuff you might think is funny. There is a church here in Brasil that worships on the beach. They have like a surfboard as their podium and a shack as their chapel. Remember the story in the Bible about Jesus walking on water? Their explanation, and what they actually believe, is that he was surfing. Yeah.  Also, Winnie the Pooh here is Ursinho Puff.  Also, there is a funny phrase in Brasil, see if you can translate: "Mulher de bigode, nem o diabo pode"  [Google translate indicates: "Women with a mustache, nor the devil can" -- we'll have to find out more about this one later]

Eu amo voces!!!,

Elder Bradford

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To commemorate AJ's last week in São Paulo at the Brazil MTC, we decided to order him a 'Big Cookie' at Mr. Cheney Cookies, which is across the street.  Here are pictures they sent:

The cookie reads:  "We love you...and yeah".  When this was ordered, our family received a confused reply from Mr. Cheney Cookies - they we were wondering if they received a complete quote.  We assured them that AJ would get it.  Our family has an inside joke about ending sentences using the phrase '...and yeah'.

Elder Norman and Elder Conner (who arrived recently from the Provo MTC) enjoyed the cookie with AJ.  Elder Conner will also be serving in the Campinas mission.

May 23rd letters

Oi! Tudo bem com vocês?

I'm actually able to read the Portuguese Livro de Mórmon much faster, but I still have to take it word by word. I need to work on applying the new words I find to my lessons, so I can use them in speaking instead of just being able to read them. Irmão Mauricio said that the language in the Livro de Mórmon is not far different from the Portuguese spoken by people today - in fact, he said there are some people who speak exactly in that manner.

He also said that the outskirts of Campinas are total redneck territory. Yes, they have rednecks here, called caipiras. They have a funny accent, plaid clothes and everything.

Real quick, I have like a minute left, here's a quote from a talk given by Elder Bednar (translated into Portuguese and back into English): "The gospel of Jesus Christ serves to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable." :P interesting, huh?  I'll follow-up later today with a missionties letter.

Love yall!
Elder Bradford

The following is a letter received later that day (click on it to view):

AJ enjoys an American treat

AJ's time in Sao Paulo at the MTC is winding down, so we decided to surprise him with a good 'ole American chocolate shake on his preparation day this past Wednesday.  The picture was taken at Mr. Cheney Cookies, which is across the street from the MTC.  They cater to the many American missionaries that make their way through the area (we placed the order via their website).  His companion, Elder Norman, is apparently quite taken with the event...they treated him with one as well.

Here's a street-view snapshot from Google Maps of their location (you can use the 'Location' link below the picture to see more of the street):

May 16th letter

I haven't told you about the weather here! Now that it's getting into winter, it rains quite a bit. And when it rains, it RAINS. Big, heavy raindrops, not drizzle. So it's not so different from my home weather. Also, I haven't taught you guys any Portuguese! You should send me some phrases or words and I will try to translate them. I have committed myself to read the Livro de Mórmon in Portuguese. So far I have read Alma 14-16. It is a very poignant section, and it really struck me in a different way this time as I read it, probably because I have to read it really slow!

I can share some more comments about the Holy Ghost - O Espírito Santo. We had a lesson a few days ago by Irmão Vilas Boas, where we watched a talk given by Elder Bednar. He explained that we don't always have to identify promptings we have are from the Holy Ghost. I didn't understand it fully, but what I got from it is that I just need to focus on doing the right things, working hard, keeping covenants, and the Holy Ghost will work through me whether I know it or not. How do we obtain the Spirit? We do what we're supposed to. It is a common misconception that we must have a really spiritual feeling inside in order to claim the Spirit is working through us, but it's not always the case. As long as we are doing the best we can, God helps us.

Eu amo vocês! Elder Bradford

New Mission President Announced

We've been made aware that AJ's upcoming mission president, Pres. Marshall Tanner, has been experiencing some health issues and will be headed back to the US in July (he will have served for two years).  AJ will serve under him for about a month, as he's headed there in June.  The following was included in the Church News on May 5th regarding the new mission president and his wife:

Carlos E. and Lilian Perrotti

Carlos Eduardo Soares Perrotti, 49, and Lilian de Souza Perrotti, three children, Brazil Campinas Mission; Jardim das Vertentes Ward, São Paulo Brazil Stake. Brother Perrotti serves as a counselor in a stake presidency and is a former bishop, branch president and missionary in the Brazil Curitiba Mission. Institute director, Seminaries and Institutes. Born in  São Paulo, Brazil, to David Roja and Vany Soares Perrotti.

Sister Perrotti serves as a counselor in a stake Young Women presidency and as a seminary teacher. She is a former stake Young Women president and counselor in a Primary presidency. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, to Walter and Mercedes Moreno de Souza.

The following information about Pres. Tanner and his wife was published in the Church News in 2010 when they were called to serve in Campinas:

Colleen B. and Robert M. Tanner

Robert Marshall Tanner, 63, and Colleen Bonner Tanner, seven children, Brazil Campinas Mission; Ocean View Ward, Huntington Beach California North Stake. Brother Tanner is a former stake president and counselor, bishop, branch president, ward young single adult leader and missionary in the Brazilian Mission. Partner, Sheppard Mullin. Born in Santa Monica, Calif., to Stanley Robert and Kathryn Lau Tanner.

Sister Tanner is a former ward Primary and Young Women president, counselor in a stake Primary presidency, temple ordinance worker, ward young single adult leader and mission secretary in the Brazil Sao Paulo Interlagos and California Long Beach Missions. Born in Orem, Utah, to James and Alma Hobson Bonner.