October 28th letter

Boa tarde [good afternoon] my family!!

Elder Lierley suddenly got homesick [he's from Alaska]

It was good to hear from you guys! I hope you are enjoying the colder weather there because here it is HOT!! And it's only gonna get HOTTER!! I will come home a little tanner I think...at least on my face and arms.

We had the baptism of Anthony this past week. As mentioned in a previous letter, Vitória had passed along him as a reference for us to teach.  Anthony asked her dad to baptize him. Yeah, Elder Lierley's first baptism!!!!

About your question dad [on filtered water], the mission has emphasized somewhat about us drinking filtered water. Every house is supposed to have a mineral water barrel tank thing and some sort of dispenser/pump. We receive a reimbursement every time we buy more water. Recently, I have been getting better about drinking only mineral water. For most people it's not a big concern because the water in Campinas is relatively good compared to other cities.

I have to tell you, I'm really upset with the devil right now. I know it's really strange to say that, especially for visitors on the blog who read my emails. Remember that as God exists, the opposition exists as well. When we do things that God likes, the opposition is not happy. In fact, it's the opposition that has rule over the earth. So, there's a lot going against those who try to do the right. We are teaching a family that for the second consecutive Sunday weren't able to attend church because they got sick Sunday morning. Gaaaaaah!! Come on Satan, give a little slack here! Well those are my weird comments for today! Enjoy the pics!

Eu amo vocês muito! [I love you very much!] Thank you all for the prayers!
Elder Bradford

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Us with a cool view in Campinas

Photo after our multi-zone mission conference with Elder Steven E. Snow

October 21st letter

Bom dia meus queridos!! [Good morning dear ones]

Today I have very little time to write because I spent most of my time making a document to better keep up with the areas where we have missionaries, so I'll just mention real quick about our friend Antony.

Two Saturdays ago we ate lunch at a family's house, and after we gave the first lesson asked about friends we could teach. Their daughter thought of her friend Antony. She called him and he said that he would stop by their house later that day, so we left and returned later and gave him the first lesson. He understood it well and we invited him to read the Book of Mormon and to attend church. The lesson was enjoyable. It's interesting how the same amount of information can be at times very enjoyable to teach and very understandable, and then in other lessons it can seem really heavy and way too much for the person.

SO, Antony went to church with the family and liked it a lot. During the week he is gone almost the whole day at work and school, so we didn't get to talk to him until this last Saturday. He witnessed the baptism of a girl in our ward and thought it was cool. We taught him about the gospel of Christ and he accepted to be baptized on the 27th, as long as he feels ready. Then he went to church on Sunday and something must of happened...maybe he felt something. When we went to teach him yesterday I asked, "How are you feeling about your baptism on the 27th?". I was expecting him to kind of look down and say "Oh, I don't know...I don't think I'm ready", but he just looked to the side, thought a little bit, then looked at me and smiled and nodded his head. I was just like, YEEAAAAHHHH!!! I mean, that's what was in my head...I didn't actually scream in the lesson. But we were like parabens pela decisão [congratulations on your decision] and we taught him the commandments...he accepted all of them. He's already cut coffee and tea even though we didn't tell him about it until yesterday. That is so cool. So we're rooting that he can be baptised this Sunday!!

Eu amo vocês! Elder Bradford!

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Here's God's phone number, in case you're wondering [a coincidental reference to 'Eloi', which is an Aramaic name for God as well as the apparent name of a town/business in Brazil]

First Week in Southwest Campinas

Hey,

AJ and Elder Lierley

So I found out after I emailed you guys last week that I would be training a new missionary! So I'm here with Elder Lierley (Liar-Lee) from Alaska! He is 24 and was baptized when he was 8, but his family grew inactive and he became atheist, like one of those really stubborn atheists, until he was 22. And then a returned missionary was able to answer all of his questions about God and the purpose of life. He then read the Book of Mormon and received an answer from God that the book is true. Now he has a testimony like iron!! He is a really cool guy. Seeing as he got here in Brasil last week, he doesn't understand much Portuguese, but he can speak a little. This week I had him teach the First Vision several times and bear his testimony in the language.

Google Streets view of Bandeirantes Ward buliding

We are serving in the Bandeirantes Ward [Bandeirantes translates to 'followers of the banner'], which is in the stake Campos Elíseos. It's kind of cool because we are pretty close to the area in Campinas that I've previously served in (Campinas 3rd Ward). We are in the same zone, so I'll be able to see the missionaries again in that area!

So, I wanted to thank you guys so much for sending the frisbees...man, the missionaries I gave them to so got so excited!! We also played a little frisbee today.

Also, thank you mom for the thoughts about church callings. It is true that as we leave a 'position', having worked hard to magnify the position, we will leave our vision of what we want accomplished. It's interesting how God wants us to always be stretching ourselves, changing tasks, changing us. Which reminds me that I really liked Elder Nelson's talk about change from general conference. When he declared that we can change ourselves, change our desires, I felt that he was talking directly to me! But anyway, thank you for the reminder that I don't have to finish everything perfectly, but just do my best.

Thank you so much for your prayers! I am working on developing charity right now. I'm trying to put myself in the position of others. It is life-changing when you do this. Yesterday was testimony meeting at church and I tried to put myself in the shoes and project myself in the life of the people who bore testimony. It was a very emotional experience. I didn't end up crying, but I could acutely feel the pains and joys of some of the people that went up. Without charity we are indeed nothing.

Have an awesome week! Share the beautiful gospel!
Elder Bradford

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A family that we were teaching in Paulínia

The family's cat...who didn't have a name...I found out that after I left they named him Bradford!

Our ward mission leader, Robson (man he is an awesome ward mission leader)

My two missionary 'sons'! Elder Zacheu [middle] is a mission secretary now.

View from our boarding

A pizza that we ordered!

Final week in Paulínia (18-month mark)

Hi family,

Holy cow dad, that is so cool that you met Elder Dube while serving your mission!! [AJ is referring to his dad meeting a young Eddie Dube in the town of Kwekwe, Zimbabwe in 1986. Edward Dube, a church leader in the 1st Quorum of the Seventy since April, addressed church members during the Saturday morning session of general conference]. I've never even thought about the fact that someone that I've met here could end up being in the general leadership of the church or someone of importance. Wow that blew my mind!! I showed this to my companion and he told me his favorite talk of the whole conference was of Elder Dube. Man I'm going to print the photo you sent and show it to people...hey my dad met this guy on his mission!

About being the new 'Presidente da Soc Soc' [AJ responds to his mom being called as the new Relief Society president in our church ward], as a missionary I can suggest that you work closely with the Elders. Meaning: check up with them every once in a while to see if the dinners are going okay (the Elders will (probably) never call you to say the dinners aren't happening, they won't want to bother you). Well, actually I don't even know if in the US the Relief Society has a part in the meals with missionaries...here our lunches are run by the RS. Tell the women of the ward that the Elders are awesome and every once in a while have someone drop off a snack at their apartment. Encourage the women to preach the gospel with their friends and family. Make sure the RS does their part of the Ward Mission Plan. Make sure that the women do their Visiting Teaching visits. Hehehehe, so you'll already have a lot on your plate besides all of this, but some things to consider!!!

HEY! I almost forgot! I was transferred! I don't know where! I will know tomorrow! Yeah this week was groovy and conference was cool! I love you guys!!! Thanks for the emails, love and prayers! Thank you also for sending the packages!!!

Elder Bradford

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Our zone of missionaries at Pres. Martin's house (stake president)

The missionaries in my mission zone

September 30th letter

Hello family,

So today we're at the house of the Martins again [pics are with August 19th letter], so that means I'm using this iPad that keeps turning my English into Portuguese...it's very hard to write. This week was unproductive. Tiago, someone that we've been teaching, decided against being baptized. This mission zone is kinda dead right now. I'm not sure what exactly to do, but we're going to work hard and have a good mission district meeting tomorrow.

Yeah...about my smile in recent pictures, hahahahaha. I'm still happy, I assure you. My only worries right now are that I learn all that I need to in my remaining 6 months and help improve the work in our zone. But I'm still happy. I think you guys said this because those last few photos were not very good. Yes, I'm getting tired...mentally and physically. But I'm not saying this to say, "whoa, I've worked soooooo hard look at me".  I still have a lot to do and learn. I'm still excited and happy and stuff, but the work is still super tough. But thank you for noticing and worrying about me!

Thank you for your prayers! Have a good week full of learning!
Elder Bradford