Hey fam,
So today I have even LESS time to write you guys! Busy, busy, busy wrapping stuff up [AJ heads home on March 24th]. I'm still working through a scripture chart in Portuguese that I showed you last week and I finished up some stuff for our mission zone T-shirt (man that was a lot of work). Today we're going downtown to buy some stuff! I was thinking about going to the Dom Pedro shopping mall which is like one of the biggest in Latin America [about 85% the size of the Lloyd Center in Portland or University Mall in Orem], but there wouldn't be time and I think a lot of stuff there must be pretty expensive. There's a lot of stuff in downtown Campinas I can get.
Also I cut my toe pretty bad...just to get you guys worried...actually it's nothing serious. Okay have a great week!!! Thank you for the prayers! Keep praying!
Elder Bradford
Monday, March 10, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
March 3rd letter
Hey guys,
So this week was a little difficult. We made a list of all the less-active church members in the neighborhood. We went after the addresses, but we found very few people at home. Some of them didn't want contact with the church. It was funny, as we spent time running after these addresses without any result, then at church there miraculously appeared some new people to teach. We also talked to some members and got word of some less-active church members who would accept our visits. We visited one of the families yesterday and they received us. So that was cool.
We're having a bit of trouble determining what exactly is the problem in our mission zone in regard to finding people to accept the gospel. We've tried so many things these last few weeks, and months, and nothing seems to work. We're going to have to try something that I've never done...I don't know what that is yet...
Unfortunately, I won't be able to send pictures on this computer, but I will send some next week! It seems that all the members and other missionaries are trying to get me trunky [as in packing a 'trunk' for a trip, as AJ will finish his mission in three weeks]. But that's not gonna work! I'm trying my best to focus on the mission stuff. Thank you for your prayers and love!
Elder Bradford
So this week was a little difficult. We made a list of all the less-active church members in the neighborhood. We went after the addresses, but we found very few people at home. Some of them didn't want contact with the church. It was funny, as we spent time running after these addresses without any result, then at church there miraculously appeared some new people to teach. We also talked to some members and got word of some less-active church members who would accept our visits. We visited one of the families yesterday and they received us. So that was cool.
We're having a bit of trouble determining what exactly is the problem in our mission zone in regard to finding people to accept the gospel. We've tried so many things these last few weeks, and months, and nothing seems to work. We're going to have to try something that I've never done...I don't know what that is yet...
Unfortunately, I won't be able to send pictures on this computer, but I will send some next week! It seems that all the members and other missionaries are trying to get me trunky [as in packing a 'trunk' for a trip, as AJ will finish his mission in three weeks]. But that's not gonna work! I'm trying my best to focus on the mission stuff. Thank you for your prayers and love!
Elder Bradford
Thursday, February 27, 2014
February 24th letter
Hey guys!!!
So this week we did our best with the two children I mentioned last week to see they were baptized, but it didn't work out. The family ended up having some serious problems and because of the situation right now, we aren't able to pass by their house. A church member that was helping us out is worried about I don't know what and she isn't able to help right now. Also, no one we've been teaching went to church! SOOO, we are going to work in a different neighborhood this coming week. I am excited! I always get excited when there is some change in the work, like a different neighborhood, area, companion, teaching pool - it's good stuff.
Hey mom, I was thinking about what you said, that you feel like it's on your shoulders to get the women excited about missionary work. I had an IDEA! Talk to the missionaries! Tell them you want to get the women excited about missionary work. I'm sure they will be more than happy to help. One of the things that missionaries want most for church members is that they develop the faith, vision, and excitement necessary to do missionary work. I don't know what I'd give to have one of our ward leaders come to me and ask me to help their members to develop these things and to give me all their support.
Well, unfortunately I had a lot to do today on the computer today so I wasn't able to write a lot, but I'm doing well, I'm healthy! I'm learning a ton! Yeah mormonism! I love you guys a WHOLE LOT!!! LIKE A LOT!! Thank you for your prayers!
Elder Bradford
So this week we did our best with the two children I mentioned last week to see they were baptized, but it didn't work out. The family ended up having some serious problems and because of the situation right now, we aren't able to pass by their house. A church member that was helping us out is worried about I don't know what and she isn't able to help right now. Also, no one we've been teaching went to church! SOOO, we are going to work in a different neighborhood this coming week. I am excited! I always get excited when there is some change in the work, like a different neighborhood, area, companion, teaching pool - it's good stuff.
Hey mom, I was thinking about what you said, that you feel like it's on your shoulders to get the women excited about missionary work. I had an IDEA! Talk to the missionaries! Tell them you want to get the women excited about missionary work. I'm sure they will be more than happy to help. One of the things that missionaries want most for church members is that they develop the faith, vision, and excitement necessary to do missionary work. I don't know what I'd give to have one of our ward leaders come to me and ask me to help their members to develop these things and to give me all their support.
Well, unfortunately I had a lot to do today on the computer today so I wasn't able to write a lot, but I'm doing well, I'm healthy! I'm learning a ton! Yeah mormonism! I love you guys a WHOLE LOT!!! LIKE A LOT!! Thank you for your prayers!
Elder Bradford
Thursday, February 20, 2014
February 17th letter
Yo peeps!
I am liking my new mission ward a lot. Yesterday we had our coordination meeting and I think it was the best one I've ever had on the mission. Probably because it was the first that had the participation of the bishopric and the auxiliary group leaders. When we talked about the difficulties of those we're teaching, they were ready to give an idea, or offer to make a phone call once in a while, or make a visit with us. Man, it was so much easier that having to run after each and every member trying to make visits. Make sure, Mom, that you have a representative of the Relief Society at the missionary coordination meeting because it will strengthen the link between the ward and the missionaries. Man, it was definitely one of the most positive and productive coordination meetings I've had on my mission! Most of the time in other areas it was just myself, my companion, and the ward mission leader in the meeting...and it was just for him to follow up with us and see if we were working. Now I understand a lot more about how to make that vital connection between the ward and the missionaries. I left the meeting really excited to work this week (a sign of an effective meeting)! It means a lot to a missionary to know that he/she isn't working alone.
Yesterday was New Beginnings (Novos Inícios) for the young women in the Bandeirantes ward. I had promised them I would help out by playing piano, so I did that yesterday and it went well. The meeting was small because the ward has only three active young women, but it was still good.
Something cool happened in church yesterday that I wanted to tell you about. We were in Gospel Principles class learning about the Holy Spirit when the thought came to my mind that we should try calling someone that we'd been teaching that hadn't yet showed up to church. I didn't want to interrupt the class, but the thought kept coming strong, so I went over and told Elder Miranda. So we left the classroom and went over to the bishops office to use the phone, but then we remembered we had left the phone number of the guy at home, so we went to go back to class and saw a brother sitting alone in a classroom. We walked by, but Elder Miranda decided to stop and talk to him. It turns out that he is going through some VERY tough stuff right now. We gave him a priesthood blessing and returned to class. At that point the church members were discussing experiences with the Spirit, and Elder Miranda said, "Interestingly enough, we had an example right this very moment of how the Spirit works" and he started to explain what had just happened. It was in that moment that I realized what the Spirit had done so that we could end up giving that brother a blessing. I think I overlook many times how much the Spirit helps me daily.
Please pray for Gabriel and his sister because we are working to baptize them this Saturday! I love you guys, thank you for your prayers!
Elder Bradford
I am liking my new mission ward a lot. Yesterday we had our coordination meeting and I think it was the best one I've ever had on the mission. Probably because it was the first that had the participation of the bishopric and the auxiliary group leaders. When we talked about the difficulties of those we're teaching, they were ready to give an idea, or offer to make a phone call once in a while, or make a visit with us. Man, it was so much easier that having to run after each and every member trying to make visits. Make sure, Mom, that you have a representative of the Relief Society at the missionary coordination meeting because it will strengthen the link between the ward and the missionaries. Man, it was definitely one of the most positive and productive coordination meetings I've had on my mission! Most of the time in other areas it was just myself, my companion, and the ward mission leader in the meeting...and it was just for him to follow up with us and see if we were working. Now I understand a lot more about how to make that vital connection between the ward and the missionaries. I left the meeting really excited to work this week (a sign of an effective meeting)! It means a lot to a missionary to know that he/she isn't working alone.
Yesterday was New Beginnings (Novos Inícios) for the young women in the Bandeirantes ward. I had promised them I would help out by playing piano, so I did that yesterday and it went well. The meeting was small because the ward has only three active young women, but it was still good.
Something cool happened in church yesterday that I wanted to tell you about. We were in Gospel Principles class learning about the Holy Spirit when the thought came to my mind that we should try calling someone that we'd been teaching that hadn't yet showed up to church. I didn't want to interrupt the class, but the thought kept coming strong, so I went over and told Elder Miranda. So we left the classroom and went over to the bishops office to use the phone, but then we remembered we had left the phone number of the guy at home, so we went to go back to class and saw a brother sitting alone in a classroom. We walked by, but Elder Miranda decided to stop and talk to him. It turns out that he is going through some VERY tough stuff right now. We gave him a priesthood blessing and returned to class. At that point the church members were discussing experiences with the Spirit, and Elder Miranda said, "Interestingly enough, we had an example right this very moment of how the Spirit works" and he started to explain what had just happened. It was in that moment that I realized what the Spirit had done so that we could end up giving that brother a blessing. I think I overlook many times how much the Spirit helps me daily.
Please pray for Gabriel and his sister because we are working to baptize them this Saturday! I love you guys, thank you for your prayers!
Elder Bradford
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| This is brigadeiro (have you guys made it yet???). Sometimes people put stuff in brigadeiro, so we put the Reese's Pieces you sent me - wow that was good stuff! |
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| We bought pamonha from a street vendor. It's like mashed up corn with butter or something, but that's also some good stuff right there. |
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| Elder Miranda enjoying some pamonha. |
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| Cleaning the baptismal font!! There was a ward baptism of a boy named Felipe. It was a very good baptismal service and some people we're teaching came (yes!!!) |
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Transfer in Southwest Campinas (final mission transfer)
Hello family,
Man, we worked hard this week to get some people to attend church...we had a good group of folks, but they didn't make it out...AHHHHHH!! So, we'll be giving them another chance this week, as we really haven't had a chance to teach them much yet.
Also, I was transferred! My new ward is Ouro Verde, which is the other ward in Southwest Campinas that uses the same church building as the ward I've been in! I'm gonna be with Elder Miranda, who was already there, so now both of us will be together as mission zone leaders. It will help us out a lot to get things going in the zone. I'm staying in the same apartment, just moved to the other room. Elder Papenfuss is also staying and now he's going to have a different companion, but his dad (me) is gonna be here to help him out every step of the way! :P
Keep me in your prayers...even at the end of my mission I am growing and learning so much! I'm going to do my absolute best! Have a great blustery, snowy week! Here it's being the complete opposite. I love you guys sooooooooo much!
Elder Bradford
Man, we worked hard this week to get some people to attend church...we had a good group of folks, but they didn't make it out...AHHHHHH!! So, we'll be giving them another chance this week, as we really haven't had a chance to teach them much yet.
Also, I was transferred! My new ward is Ouro Verde, which is the other ward in Southwest Campinas that uses the same church building as the ward I've been in! I'm gonna be with Elder Miranda, who was already there, so now both of us will be together as mission zone leaders. It will help us out a lot to get things going in the zone. I'm staying in the same apartment, just moved to the other room. Elder Papenfuss is also staying and now he's going to have a different companion, but his dad (me) is gonna be here to help him out every step of the way! :P
Keep me in your prayers...even at the end of my mission I am growing and learning so much! I'm going to do my absolute best! Have a great blustery, snowy week! Here it's being the complete opposite. I love you guys sooooooooo much!
Elder Bradford
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| Thank you so much for the cookies!!! Man I miss the CTM!!!! [the cookies are from Mr. Cheney's, which is a business that caters to American missionaries and is located next to the Brazil missionary training center, or CTM]. Also, the other package you shipped the beginning of October got here [finally] the same day...thank you so much!!!! |
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| We made something called Pavê for our mission zone activity...it's creme or mousse layered with crackers...it's good stuff!!! |
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| Corn popcicle - mmmmmmm!!! It's actually fairly popular here and it's not that bad! |
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| These pics are from our mission zone activity. We played torta na cara (pie in the face). A scriptural question was posed, and the person that slaps the table first gets to respond. If he gets it right, he can land the pie in the other persons face - if he's wrong he gets it in his own face. It was pretty cool. |
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