May 27th letter

Hello my family!

Wow I was surprised to hear that the bishopric is going to change! Has it already been 5 1/2 years? It doesn't seem that long ago when Bishop McKague was called. Man it was so cool having him as our bishop. I wonder who will be the new head honcho of Harmony ward??

Me and Francisco

Saturday we visited Francisco. For about a month he has been staying at a ranch to help him with life. We visited him, and it was really cool! He has changed a lot. He's not just skin and bones anymore. He's got some meat on him. He's shaved and clean, doesn't stutter, acts normal -- he's the real Francisco again! He's loving it there. He'll stay another 5 months before heading back home. We went there with Brandão our Líder da Obra [local church leader] and his wife, as well as a previous bishop (just before the current one). He promised Francisco a job when his stay is over. I'm so happy for him!

Us, our Bishop, and Lavinia & family

We also had the baptism of Lavinia yesterday. She went to the baptism of Beatriz and felt the Spirit very strong, she then had the desire to be baptized! We talked a lot with her family, who is supportive of the decision. We taught her family too. The first lesson went very well and the Spirit was strong. At one point I wasn't even saying my own words, but the words that were coming to my head in the exact minute that I needed them. Kind of cool how the promises in the scriptures are fulfilled. Now if I could only be able to do this in every single lesson!!

We are also teaching this kid Gabriel who is super smart and has a looot of questions. Thanks for the love, and the prayers. Pray for Gabriel, he's needing them!

Elder Bradford

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The big guy who baptized Lavinia is a member of the ward who lives in the same bairro [neighborhood].
The other member in the suit is a recently returned missionary who helps us out a lot.

AJ, Francisco, and Elder Zacheu - the pictures below are of the ranch where Francisco is living

May 20th letter

Helllllooo,

Baptism of Beatriz

So all's going well with Hiago's family! Beatriz his sister was baptized yesterday. And this time their mom and dad went to church and the baptism! They are really supportive. They actually want to be baptized as well. We are also teaching one of Hiago's friends and one of Beatriz's friends. And they have a member who lives in front of their house who is helping a lot. The only hard thing is that the work schedule of Hiago and his mom have gotten a little difficult. We also found a few more families this week who are super cool, so the work is going well.

Yesterday, Eurico blessed the sacrament for the first time! Our bishop asked him last Sunday if he would do it, so Eurico spent the whole week practicing with the part in D&C that has the prayer, in a nervous fret. Then came Sunday and he asked that I bless with him to help him out, it was a little new for me also because there's a different routine for passing the sacrament than I'm used to. I told him to read the words real slow, but when he did it he seemed to be reading it as fast as he could, just to get it over with! But he got it right the first time! Man it reminds me of my first time, I think I was with Jacob Scoville or Conor Seat, I don't remember well but I remember that it was good that I had someone helping me out a lot.

In response to your questions, we do bus contacts every time we ride the bus, which is usually once per day.  That was my companion who took the picture [see last week's post].  He likes to take random photos of me. As far as I know, we don't have any senior couples in our mission. But I've also never seen the two counselors to our mission president so maybe we have some senior couples that I've never seen.

That's all for this week.
Elder Bradford

Mother's Day skype call & pictures

AJ & Elder Zacheu via Skype

AJ poses during our Skype call

We had a great conversation with AJ on Sunday for Mother's Day. A family that was recently baptized offered their home to him and his missionary companion to make Skype calls home. For those less familiar with an LDS mission, the missionaries are allowed to call/skype home twice a year - on Mother's Day and Christmas Day.  It was great to hear that AJ is doing well, and apparently he's gained some weight -- he mentioned needing to be better about turning down Brazilian desserts :-). I've included a couple of pics we took during our conversation, as well as some AJ sent the following day.

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I got caught by a candid camera on the ônibus [city bus] doing contacts

A family night we did with Hiago, his family, and a member family who lives on the other side of the road.

Hiago's Baptism!

May 6th letter

Oh glória [glory]!

So this week we had the baptism of the super special family Eurico, Simone, Lais and Melissa. It was cool. What else happened this week. Right, so Saturday before the baptism I did my very first baptismal interview with a rapaz [guy] named Wellington who got baptized yesterday. I was really fortunate that my first interview was also pretty easy. He already knew almost everything and was super excited to be baptized.

Something cool happened after the interview. We ended the interview with a prayer and then we left the room to talk to his mom, grandpa, and grandma who were waiting outside the house chatting with Elder Gaines. In that moment I felt like I should say something to them, and I announced that Wellington was prepared to be baptized and had had a change of heart. At first their reaction was one of doubt, as it seemed like he had been kind of a rebel and had done some damage in the family. Wellington stood there, looking down. His grandma looked at me and said 'Really?' I restated my position, telling them that I had perceived a change of heart. Then all of a sudden Wellington standing there burst into tears, and went to hug his grandma, crying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry". He then went and hugged his mom who by that time was tearing up. Elder Gaines and I just stood back and watched the family have this moment together. He hugged his grandpa, and then Elder Gaines, and then me. It was a cool experience. It makes me feel good that he must have had a spiritual experience or something during our interview, which is what really should happen. This is indeed true repentance. How will it be to run in tears to the arms of our Savior and give him a hug in the next life when we are made clean through his sacrifice?

Ok, gotta go. Can't wait till Sunday [Mother's Day skype call]!
Elder Bradford

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Só brancura [all whiteness]! From left to right: Elder Zacheu, me, Elder Aguileira, a woman from Louveira who
was baptized, a brother from the ward, Eurico & Simone's family, and Elder Gaines

The reception for Eurico and Simone's wedding (the morning of their baptism)

April 29th letter

Boa Tarde! [Good afternoon!]

We did a Noite Familiar [family night] with Eurico & Simone's family
(being baptized this Saturday!) along with their friend Misael.

So, I'm doing good. We worked really hard this last week. We were able to teach quite a few lessons. We got 12 pesquisadores [people we're teaching] to attend church! We also have 8 of them who have potential to be baptized this weekend! There's the family of Eurico, Simone, Melissa and Laís who are super awesome, they've been taking lessons for 6 months now and will be getting married this Saturday, and we'll have the baptism afterwards! I'm pretty stoked! There are four more pesquisadores with whom we'll have to work quite a bit more; two of them have been being taught for 2 weeks, and the other 2 we met Saturday! This week is going to be tough but special!

I actually got to talk with Tanner Nelson this past week! [he just arrived in Campinas and is from AJ's home ward]. I called the office last Tuesday to pass some references, and he was there so we were able to converse briefly. It was pretty cool! I heard from the secretary who his trainer is, Elder Peterson - he's pretty crazy but a good missionary. Also, the group of dudes in the picture I sent last week - it's just that, a group of dudes. We've passed by a few times and talked with them, but come Sunday morning, unfortunately no one wants to wake up and go to church.

My allergies have caused some problems recently, like sneezing and stuff, especially when there's a lot of dust. But it's not horrible. This last week I got a cold, but it passed quickly....onto the other Elders. Elder Zacheu and Elder Gaines (the new missionary in Nova Vinhedo) are dealing with it right now.

I wanted to pass along a challenge to all young men preparing to serve a mission. To be more prepared for your mission you need to bring with you written down or at least in your memory:

• 1 experience when you received revelation at church
• 1 experience when you received revelation through the Book of Mormon
• 1 experience when you received revelation through your prayers

If you don't have all these things, ask of God and it shall be given you. Why do you need these things? First you need to believe through personal experience that the people you meet can have revelation from God by going to church, reading the Book of Mormon, and praying. Then you will be able to teach with power to the people, and be able to help them obtain revelation. And why would this be important? It's a way to get the interest of people (who wouldn't like to talk with God?). And for people to know that you are servants of Christ and that they need to be baptized, they need to have a spiritual witness (revelation).

Obrigado por TUDO! Continue orando por mim! [Thanks for EVERYTHING! Continue praying for me!]
Elder Bradford

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Stroganofe - the Brasilian Missionary's standard.

I finally remembered to take a photo of our apartment!

A sister in our ward makes and sells a Book of Mormon board game (O Jogo do Livro de Mórmon)