Wow, December 15...10 days till Christmas. That’s crazy to me.
Well, I am doing a lot better than I was the last week. I’ve gotten to know the people a little bit better, the area a little more...and...I’m growing to love the sand! Sometimes in the lessons, I let my hands play through the sand, kinda like the beach. I really like it here. My companion is awesome, and I am having a great time.
Tuesday, Elder Salcedo, who was with us for a week, received his transfer, so were just two now. I loved being in a trio, but its nice to be able to just relax a bit now, and work in the regular way.
So I got rid of my cold that I had, but I pick up some hard core diarrhea So that's been a little interesting for the time being. Life here seems to be just hill after hill after hill. But other than that...I am doing good.
Today for p-day, we got the almost the whole zone together and played a little soccer. It was soooooo hot....soooooooooo hot. So hot. About died.
Time for Mom Questions:
Did you arrive to your new area with a current teaching pool…or are you starting from scratch?
This area has been worked super hard with great missionaries for a long time...So we already had a good teaching pool. As always we can do better, and we are looking more and more, but the missionaries here have done a good job.
Do you have some investigators that you are working with?
So...Jesus and Vasilica....their kids are members, and they are now attending church every week. They want to get baptized, but they just need to get married....so were in that situation again. Great people. Julia and Henry....basically the same deal. And this week, we were walking down the road, and contacted a single mom with her three kids. We invited here to sees “He is the gift”, then we went back another day. I personally wasn’t there the second time (I was on a work visit, splits.) But my comp invited her to the church...and she came! SUPER COOL. Her name is Maria. thats super rare that someone goes like that. We are really excited. We also recently found a new guy named Wilder...Pretty cool... 27 years old, good young man.
What new discoveries have you found in your new area?
In the ward boundaries...(in the area of the sister missionaries) there is a KFC. And for some reason, I think that is pretty cool. Also, my area has a huge canal, drain thing....super super ugly. Its filled with green water (neon green water) and there was a cat that fell into it...for like 3 days it was meowing and all. jaja
Companions?
only one now...super cool guy. Super obedient and hard working. Loves to work and help the people. We work really well together. I feel like he is helping me be a better person.
Are you cooking more or do you use the Pensionista?
We always eat with our Pensionista. For lunch at least... breakfast and dinner, we’re on our own...but mom, you would be super proud of me....I stocked up on tons of food, fruits and good things like that. and I have been doing lots of exercises
Anything interesting coming up for your mission?
just multi zone conferences....so nothing too cool.
Does your mission have plans for Christmas?
President wants us to have a special Christmas....more than just a party...but a Christmas Season of service and stuff....so we are thinking of what we can do.
Did the plans for the orphanage or the hospital work out for your zone for Christmas?
we are still working on it...we found a place and we are going to work out all of our plans for it this week.
I am doing good. Right now, I would really like to talk a little bit a bout the new video “Él es la Dádiva”, or “He is the gift”. Right now, we are inviting EVERYONE we know to go and to watch it. and we have found tons of people using it. Its a great tool to be able to find people. This December, I really feel like I have grown closer to Christ. I have gotten to know him more, through the scriptures, my experiences, and my prayers. I invite you all to watch the video and to do what the video asks you to do....discover, accept, and share it... Understand the purpose of this Christmas season...not just all the stuff.
Mom, I love the letter countdown everyday. I love it so much...and the pictures of Christ that you included with each letter. All the missionaries that come by our room always say, “oh wow! You have new ones!”. love the photos. Special awesome thanks to all that contributed to those notes. You have really lifted me up quite a bit...and helped to make it a wonderful Christmas Season. Thank you.
Love you all!
Elder Bradshaw
Monday, December 15, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Mom, I will try to do my best with your request, I know you wished for a super long letter full of lots of details of my new area....But my computer is junk today, so have patience with my spelling and all. Everything is a struggle in this cafe today.
Well...I do like my new area. Go to 'google', and type in Piura....
You'll see a huge church, with a big beautiful park and a couple cool buildings....This is like 15 or 20 minutes walking from my room. My area is 100% dust and sand, (it’s more of an outskirt of town) but in the ward boundries, there is a KFC...so its pretty cool. I’m 100% sure I will be going there.
But seriously, sometimes I’ll just be walking through sand just like at the beach, just huge and deep. When there is wind, we just get caked. Its cool through, I really really like it. Its more relaxed and a little less crazy than Puyango. And the blessing of this area is that the sand in the night light...looks like a groomed ski track. Makes me smile.
The ward here is super awesome. It amazes me to see members so involved with us and so willing to help us. The members love the missionaries and are great people. Around 100 attend church...it's going to be great!
I will be in a tri-panionship for a while. So I am with Elder Salcedo (from Ecuador, 6 months in the mission), and Elder Cortijo (Lima, 23 months). The two are awesome guys. They both want to work really hard, and are a really obedient. We all get along perfectly well. Elder Cortijo is going to finish soon, but he doesn't even talk about it, and just works and works and works. It’s fun to be in a trio, because we can do divisions a lot, and its always fun to just have more people to talk to. Downside is that you don t have to adjust to a new work style....but two new work styles... And I don’t feel like I have really made a great connection with the two of them quite yet. But we are growing and all together....Elder Salcedo will be with us for like 2 weeks more I think.
I got to meet my whole zone this week! Its HUGE. Some awesome missionaries though. (pic attached) Good people, excited to work with them. We had a zone conference this week with them which went pretty well. Right now we have 26 missionaries...HUGE. More people = more fun.
Today For pday, we had a huge service project in the morning, with all of Piura. Pretty fun. We just scraped off the signs that had been posted on the posts. Fun. Then after, our trio and two more companionships came to our room and we made tacos. In the most humble way I’ll say that I basically nailed the pico de gallo, and the hot sauce. No...seriously I nailed those. Then the missionary from El Salvador nailed the chicken. Then with the tortillas that you sent me....it was heaven for me.
My room is awesome. It’s basically a whole house....we have a family room (with couches), a kitchen, a guest room, and our room. It’s really dirty with the transfers and dirt and all, but we are going to clean it. The bathroom is not connected to the house, so we have a small patio out back. It’s nice. It’s just so hot inside sometimes....I always wake up soaked in sweat.
So this year as a zone, for a Christmas activity, we are looking for a hospital or orphanage to sponsor as a zone to be able to have a special Christmas. More details will come next week. I am going to coordinate with our Pensionista and my comps to see if we can call at 3 my time on Christmas Day. Put that one in your calendar!
I am doing good. It was a hard week. I really did struggle quite a bit. Just with the whole change and all. I am doing better now, just need to keep on going. That’s it. I have just been sick, tired, and kinda lost this week, but I fully expect that next week will be better.
With ‘He is the Gift’, we are working a lot with that. Seriously...a ton! I am just about to fill about a report with it, and download it on my USB to share it with families! I love it so much!
Well I am fine and all- just a little bit TUMBES HOMESICK.
But, as always...I will be fine. I love you all a ton
Elder Bradshaw
Well...I do like my new area. Go to 'google', and type in Piura....
You'll see a huge church, with a big beautiful park and a couple cool buildings....This is like 15 or 20 minutes walking from my room. My area is 100% dust and sand, (it’s more of an outskirt of town) but in the ward boundries, there is a KFC...so its pretty cool. I’m 100% sure I will be going there.
But seriously, sometimes I’ll just be walking through sand just like at the beach, just huge and deep. When there is wind, we just get caked. Its cool through, I really really like it. Its more relaxed and a little less crazy than Puyango. And the blessing of this area is that the sand in the night light...looks like a groomed ski track. Makes me smile.
The ward here is super awesome. It amazes me to see members so involved with us and so willing to help us. The members love the missionaries and are great people. Around 100 attend church...it's going to be great!
I will be in a tri-panionship for a while. So I am with Elder Salcedo (from Ecuador, 6 months in the mission), and Elder Cortijo (Lima, 23 months). The two are awesome guys. They both want to work really hard, and are a really obedient. We all get along perfectly well. Elder Cortijo is going to finish soon, but he doesn't even talk about it, and just works and works and works. It’s fun to be in a trio, because we can do divisions a lot, and its always fun to just have more people to talk to. Downside is that you don t have to adjust to a new work style....but two new work styles... And I don’t feel like I have really made a great connection with the two of them quite yet. But we are growing and all together....Elder Salcedo will be with us for like 2 weeks more I think.
I got to meet my whole zone this week! Its HUGE. Some awesome missionaries though. (pic attached) Good people, excited to work with them. We had a zone conference this week with them which went pretty well. Right now we have 26 missionaries...HUGE. More people = more fun.
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| Zack's new zone in Piura |
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| Nailed it! |
So this year as a zone, for a Christmas activity, we are looking for a hospital or orphanage to sponsor as a zone to be able to have a special Christmas. More details will come next week. I am going to coordinate with our Pensionista and my comps to see if we can call at 3 my time on Christmas Day. Put that one in your calendar!
I am doing good. It was a hard week. I really did struggle quite a bit. Just with the whole change and all. I am doing better now, just need to keep on going. That’s it. I have just been sick, tired, and kinda lost this week, but I fully expect that next week will be better.
With ‘He is the Gift’, we are working a lot with that. Seriously...a ton! I am just about to fill about a report with it, and download it on my USB to share it with families! I love it so much!
Well I am fine and all- just a little bit TUMBES HOMESICK.
But, as always...I will be fine. I love you all a ton
Elder Bradshaw
Monday, December 1, 2014
Taking it to the big city...
Well, I did get transferred. I am now in Piura, Piura! More or less the central part of my mission.
Now, I am in Miguel Grau 1 (my area), in the Zone Algarrobos (the mission office is in my zone). I am with two missionaries right now. My real companion is Elder Cortijo (from Lima, and has one transfer left) and another missionary (Elder Salcedo, Ecuador) is chilling with us for a bit. I have known Elder Cortijo for a while, and he is a really cool guy. I am super excited to work here with him. I am still Zone Leader, and my zone is basically the capital of the mission. Pretty cool. This is the land where there is “Chile’s” “Papa Johns”, the Peruvian WALMART, and basically everything else you could want. Super excited to keep on working here in this new area. From what I can tell is that it is full of sand and wonderful members. I’ve never really served in a big city, so this is a new adventure for me.
So I guess I will just continue on with what happened this week.
This week was relatively relaxed. We were working and having a good time as usual. I loved my time with Elder Mulford, he is a great guy. We worked hard, and witnessed a few small miracles.
Saturday, we started from the first off the morning....We started cleaning the baptismal font, and helping a couple of missionaries to move. Then we went back to wait for the transfers....and they never came....Since we are so far away from everyone, we usually get them early, but this time, for some reason, we had to wait a while. We waited and waited, and just started working regularly....At around 6 we got the transfers. The baptism of Ana was at 7. So in the hour, we had to go buy the bus tickets, then come back....(See Lexi, sometimes everything kinda falls on your head all at once, and then you just have to take it one step at a time. We got back to the baptism, just in time, and we had a really spiritual awesome baptism! So cool to watch Christian baptism his aunt. They really are a chosen family. I love them so much. The baptism was wonderful, and Ana will be a wonderful member. After that, we went to go eat some Peruvian burgers....which were actually pretty good.
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| Zack with Ana that was baptized by her nephew Christian (who was baptized last month.) Zack adores this family. |
Sunday morning was an adventure. Our sacrament meeting started at 10, and we had ward council at 9. We went to half of ward council, then at 9:30, we left running to go pick up the family Laban Galvez. We went, and they actually attended church! SO cool. As we helped them get into church, we realized that we needed to go pick up another less active (M. Monja, who I have talked about before.) He has been less active for a while, and is a RM, so he is talked about kind of like a legend in the ward....Just a crazy hard smart dude. So at 9:55, we left running...I kid you not....Running. We ran from the church to the opposite end of our area. We ran under that hot blazing sun for like 5 minutes, sprinting. So funny. We got to his house, and we were just sweating like crazy....They told us to not wait for them, but we insisted on going with him, and we ended up taking him to church. It was really fun to walk in to church with two new families. And one of them the legendary Monja. Super funny.
Later that day, we went over to the Familia Romero Nava to have lunch. They had prepared my favorite Peruvian plates, and we spent a nice time with them. For almost two hours we were there. Then it came time to say goodbye....Wow that was so hard. There was no one there who wasn't crying. Super hard time for me. I just love them so much. I really feel like they are my family, and it was almost as hard for me to leave them as it was for me to leave you all. But...as I left their home, I just felt successful. Not in a cocky, prideful way. Not at all. Just a pure, charitable, loving way. I reflected over my mission, and was really overcome with a comforting feeling, that I am doing the right thing, and that I am making a difference.
That night, we also said goodbye to a few more people, then I started packing my bags. I am pretty sick right now, with congestion, sore throat, and so many aches and hurts. So, as you can guess...the 5 hours in bus was a really, really long 5 hours...
Well my new room is an awesome room, we’ve got couches and all. My area looks pretty cool, my comp is an awesome guy, and I am just ready to keep on going...after a quick nap of course.
Thanks for everything! Love you all. I hope I answered all of your questions...
Elder Bradshaw
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Miracles, Seventy's, toads, and busses...
Wow family! This week I have 16 months in my mission, and 5 months in Tumbes. Things are going good, but they are passing by way too fast...I am scared that I may be coming in on my last two weeks in Tumbes with Elder Mulford. Love my area, love my comp, love serving here, love the ward, love the people, its really all going good, menos the mosquitos...and the heat! jaja
Well, this week was full of adventures. So I will just start in with the stories.
There is a new missionary from St George that is in my district. I had a work visit with him, so I was in his area working with him for a day. That day, we taught a lesson at 4 in the afternoon, then we never entered another house. We walked and talked and walked and talked more and some more. SO LONG! We talked with lots of people and just kept on walking and walking. At eight o clock, we went over to a LA (less active) to finish the day off with a lesson. And as we were walking to that house, I saw a orange house. I don’t know what it was, but it just stood out to me. All the houses here all touch each other and it look s like a storage garage place, but when I saw this door, I just felt the need to knock on it. We went up, tired and all, knocked on the door, and a lady came out. We started talking, and then she invited us in. We got in, and the whole family of 5 was there. Already sitting down. Ready to listen! It was sooooo cool! It really was just a mind blowing experience. We shared a quick lesson, then I returned to my area. The Elders in that area have now taught that family a couple of more times, and I really am hoping/praying that they progress! I treasure the experience of seeing miracles everyday through the guidance of the spirit!
Another lesson, we were visiting a recently re-activated family/converts, and out side of their house, there were tons! of frogs. some small ones, and some huge ones. We found one the size of my hand, and Elder Mulford picked it up, then he through it up in the air, and I punted it into the road, then a moto-taxi ran over it. It just one of those crazy Peruvian things that happen every day.
We also had the opportunity to take the whole zone to Piura this week. The bus rides are soooooooo bad. So bad. When I say so bad.....I mean it. Just bumps, curves, heat, congestion, not enough space and everything....So the traveling was super super long. There is no way to sleep. But, really, it was fun, because I was able to get to know a couple of missionaries a little bit better. We got there, slept, then first thing in the morning, we had an awesome, meeting with Elder Evans (of the Seventy), then lunch, then another short meeting with him, then straight to the bus...Without dinner or breakfast....Man, I wanted to die! We were all suffering soooooo bad. We got back at 11 at night. So tired, hungry, and sick. I did buy food, but it wasn’t sufficient. Awesome conference, but so hard to travel and all.
This week, we have just been looking for more people to teach. And it’s been a long long time. We have been having a great time, and I love it, especially being with Elder Mulford. We are working super super hard, and are find some awesome people to teach. We found a new family, and everything is going great!
K…How about some questions…
How’s the Romero Nava family doing? Is Ana getting baptized soon?
Ana’s baptism is scheduled in two weeks... The Romero Family is progressing like none other...The wife, Madelaine, is the new 1st counselor in the Relief Society, and yesterday Christian (husband) was given the calling as ward librarian. He also receive the Priesthood yesterday!
How’s the Laban Galvez family doing? Are these two families that could be friends?
That’s the plan!
How was your meetings with Elder Evans of the Seventy?
He is a super cool guy. I learned a ton! We also had a special meeting with the other Zone Leaders, and its just so cool to get to know these guys!
Best part of your trip to Piura?
Seeing all my friends that I haven’t seen for a long time!
Did you seek out any LP boys now serving in your mission?
I saw Elder Harris, and Elder Smith.
Did you have any packages waiting for you when you got to Piura…(please say yes!)
Nope! But I think they come this week!
Please tell me you didn’t eat pizza 5 days this week…
Just twice...
Fun stuff you do with other missionaries…
Today we played Uno in the church, then went to buy pizza (of course), and now we are just chilling in internet with them.
Tender Mercies you’ve seen this week…
We found a wonderful new family that is just so open and awesome. Leonel and Nancy...We are hoping/praying that all goes well with them!
I love my area and love my time here. Everything is going so well. I love being with Elder Mulford, he is a great guy, love spending my time with him. We are basically just super chill and working super hard!
Love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Elder Bradshaw
Bonus of the week: Zack sent a tour of his apartment...in Spanish...enjoy...we did!!
Ps...editors note: We finally figured out which ward/building Zack was serving in and we found it on Google Earth...so here is a lousy picture of a great chapel. We know he lives in the area so we 'Google-flew' around for a while, but haven't quite figured out exactly where he lives...but we now know his neighborhood!
Well, this week was full of adventures. So I will just start in with the stories.
There is a new missionary from St George that is in my district. I had a work visit with him, so I was in his area working with him for a day. That day, we taught a lesson at 4 in the afternoon, then we never entered another house. We walked and talked and walked and talked more and some more. SO LONG! We talked with lots of people and just kept on walking and walking. At eight o clock, we went over to a LA (less active) to finish the day off with a lesson. And as we were walking to that house, I saw a orange house. I don’t know what it was, but it just stood out to me. All the houses here all touch each other and it look s like a storage garage place, but when I saw this door, I just felt the need to knock on it. We went up, tired and all, knocked on the door, and a lady came out. We started talking, and then she invited us in. We got in, and the whole family of 5 was there. Already sitting down. Ready to listen! It was sooooo cool! It really was just a mind blowing experience. We shared a quick lesson, then I returned to my area. The Elders in that area have now taught that family a couple of more times, and I really am hoping/praying that they progress! I treasure the experience of seeing miracles everyday through the guidance of the spirit!
Another lesson, we were visiting a recently re-activated family/converts, and out side of their house, there were tons! of frogs. some small ones, and some huge ones. We found one the size of my hand, and Elder Mulford picked it up, then he through it up in the air, and I punted it into the road, then a moto-taxi ran over it. It just one of those crazy Peruvian things that happen every day.
We also had the opportunity to take the whole zone to Piura this week. The bus rides are soooooooo bad. So bad. When I say so bad.....I mean it. Just bumps, curves, heat, congestion, not enough space and everything....So the traveling was super super long. There is no way to sleep. But, really, it was fun, because I was able to get to know a couple of missionaries a little bit better. We got there, slept, then first thing in the morning, we had an awesome, meeting with Elder Evans (of the Seventy), then lunch, then another short meeting with him, then straight to the bus...Without dinner or breakfast....Man, I wanted to die! We were all suffering soooooo bad. We got back at 11 at night. So tired, hungry, and sick. I did buy food, but it wasn’t sufficient. Awesome conference, but so hard to travel and all.
This week, we have just been looking for more people to teach. And it’s been a long long time. We have been having a great time, and I love it, especially being with Elder Mulford. We are working super super hard, and are find some awesome people to teach. We found a new family, and everything is going great!
K…How about some questions…
How’s the Romero Nava family doing? Is Ana getting baptized soon?
Ana’s baptism is scheduled in two weeks... The Romero Family is progressing like none other...The wife, Madelaine, is the new 1st counselor in the Relief Society, and yesterday Christian (husband) was given the calling as ward librarian. He also receive the Priesthood yesterday!
How’s the Laban Galvez family doing? Are these two families that could be friends?
That’s the plan!
How was your meetings with Elder Evans of the Seventy?
He is a super cool guy. I learned a ton! We also had a special meeting with the other Zone Leaders, and its just so cool to get to know these guys!
Best part of your trip to Piura?
Seeing all my friends that I haven’t seen for a long time!
Did you seek out any LP boys now serving in your mission?
I saw Elder Harris, and Elder Smith.
Did you have any packages waiting for you when you got to Piura…(please say yes!)
Nope! But I think they come this week!
Please tell me you didn’t eat pizza 5 days this week…
Just twice...
Fun stuff you do with other missionaries…
Today we played Uno in the church, then went to buy pizza (of course), and now we are just chilling in internet with them.
Tender Mercies you’ve seen this week…
We found a wonderful new family that is just so open and awesome. Leonel and Nancy...We are hoping/praying that all goes well with them!
I love my area and love my time here. Everything is going so well. I love being with Elder Mulford, he is a great guy, love spending my time with him. We are basically just super chill and working super hard!
Love you all! Have a wonderful week!
Elder Bradshaw
Bonus of the week: Zack sent a tour of his apartment...in Spanish...enjoy...we did!!
Ps...editors note: We finally figured out which ward/building Zack was serving in and we found it on Google Earth...so here is a lousy picture of a great chapel. We know he lives in the area so we 'Google-flew' around for a while, but haven't quite figured out exactly where he lives...but we now know his neighborhood!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Hey, Slick!
Sorry...there is this crazy gringo that lives in Puyango that we ALWAYS see. He’s super redneck, and he said that to us the other day and it was funny. We have been laughing about that for a while.
Well, I have never had a more stressful week than this week. I’ll just start in with a list…
1) Interviews with President for the whole Zone.
2) We had to review all of the area books.
3) Two work visits.
4) Planning and buying the tickets to take the WHOLE ZONE to Piura this weekend! I’ll tell you more in a bit.
5) Being a little sick, and going through some medical testing.
6) Ward Activities.
7) Stake conference
8) Sending missionaries to Lima to fix their visa stuff.
9) and the regular Zone leader and missionary duties.
I think we were pretty close to just locking ourselves in the room a couple times this week! Just hoping that things would calm down a bit.
But I am doing good, I feel successful after all of that busy-ness and it was a good week.
I’ll just go into a little bit more depth now...It sounds like you are all anxious to hear about my health, so I’ll jump into that... I don’t have parasites which is great. So, I’m healthy and all. I always feel a little bit ‘off’...but it’s all good.
This is the week that Elder Evans (70) is coming to our mission, so we have the privilege to go with the whole zone to Piura on a bus this Friday, then we come back to Tumbes on Saturday. I felt pretty cool buying 18 bus tickets. We basically got a whole bus for the two zones! It should pretty cool. The whole mission gets to go so everyone will be there, and then we will also be able to have a special conference with the Zone leaders of the whole mission! It's going to be awesome! I’m getting pretty pumped. Kinda scared to lead 18 people, but it should be good.
This week we had the interviews with President, and I really can’t explain how awesome they were. I loved it. Our mission is focusing TONS on families right now...And so my interview was focused on families. I had a picture of my family in there, and of Jesus Christ, and we just started off and talked TONS about how we can baptize a family every month. It really was what I needed. I felt like it really helped me find a way to direct the area and the zone a little better. And now, Elder Mulford and I are soooooo pumped to look and baptize another family. In President Rowley's talk in Stake Conference, he gave a little shout-out to the family Romero Nava! Pretty cool. President is the coolest guy, and I know that he is the perfect President for me to be working with!
We are working really hard and the work is really going well. we are pretty excited at this time and I have really grown to love my area. I love being here in Puyango. Like dad said, transfers are coming up 1-December, and there’s always a possibility that I’ll get transfered. Usually a missionary has 4 transfers in an area, or 2 transfers with a comp, before he gets transfered, and I have both….BUT!!!! there are two missionaries in the mission in their 5th transfer in their area. So it’s always possibility that I’ll be transferred…or not, but who knows???...so I will work until I get the call.
I love being here and the people we are working with are awesome.
We found a new family and they are doing great. The wife has attended twice all by herself, but here husband is always sooooo busy! But that’s how it goes. They are the family Laban Galvez (and for that reason alone, they have a particular interest in the BOM jaja.) Ana Cabrera is also getting ready for her baptism, the plan is that Christian Romero Nava (her nephew that we just baptized last month) will baptize her....Should be cool!
I think we beat the world missionary-pizza record....We ate PIZZA 5 times this week. And I know what you're thinking…but don’t freak out, you don’t know the value of pizza until you have eaten rice and chicken for 16 months straight. (By the way...a huge THANK YOU shout out to my awesome neighbor, Sister Borden, for buying us a pizza next week!!! Thank you VERY MUCH!)
I have never been so excited to work and to find and teach, and I know that these next 8months are going to be some of my most prized times ever, but 16 months is a long time, and I am starting to feel the gap between me and my family...I sure do miss you guys!
Well I am doing great, and am really excited for these next few couple of weeks.
I don’t really have anything to complain about, other than the usual rice rice rice, and unstoppable heat…but complaining won't fix it, so...
Love you all!
Elder Bradshaw
Sorry...there is this crazy gringo that lives in Puyango that we ALWAYS see. He’s super redneck, and he said that to us the other day and it was funny. We have been laughing about that for a while.
Well, I have never had a more stressful week than this week. I’ll just start in with a list…
1) Interviews with President for the whole Zone.
2) We had to review all of the area books.
3) Two work visits.
4) Planning and buying the tickets to take the WHOLE ZONE to Piura this weekend! I’ll tell you more in a bit.
5) Being a little sick, and going through some medical testing.
6) Ward Activities.
7) Stake conference
8) Sending missionaries to Lima to fix their visa stuff.
9) and the regular Zone leader and missionary duties.
I think we were pretty close to just locking ourselves in the room a couple times this week! Just hoping that things would calm down a bit.
But I am doing good, I feel successful after all of that busy-ness and it was a good week.
I’ll just go into a little bit more depth now...It sounds like you are all anxious to hear about my health, so I’ll jump into that... I don’t have parasites which is great. So, I’m healthy and all. I always feel a little bit ‘off’...but it’s all good.
This is the week that Elder Evans (70) is coming to our mission, so we have the privilege to go with the whole zone to Piura on a bus this Friday, then we come back to Tumbes on Saturday. I felt pretty cool buying 18 bus tickets. We basically got a whole bus for the two zones! It should pretty cool. The whole mission gets to go so everyone will be there, and then we will also be able to have a special conference with the Zone leaders of the whole mission! It's going to be awesome! I’m getting pretty pumped. Kinda scared to lead 18 people, but it should be good.
This week we had the interviews with President, and I really can’t explain how awesome they were. I loved it. Our mission is focusing TONS on families right now...And so my interview was focused on families. I had a picture of my family in there, and of Jesus Christ, and we just started off and talked TONS about how we can baptize a family every month. It really was what I needed. I felt like it really helped me find a way to direct the area and the zone a little better. And now, Elder Mulford and I are soooooo pumped to look and baptize another family. In President Rowley's talk in Stake Conference, he gave a little shout-out to the family Romero Nava! Pretty cool. President is the coolest guy, and I know that he is the perfect President for me to be working with!
We are working really hard and the work is really going well. we are pretty excited at this time and I have really grown to love my area. I love being here in Puyango. Like dad said, transfers are coming up 1-December, and there’s always a possibility that I’ll get transfered. Usually a missionary has 4 transfers in an area, or 2 transfers with a comp, before he gets transfered, and I have both….BUT!!!! there are two missionaries in the mission in their 5th transfer in their area. So it’s always possibility that I’ll be transferred…or not, but who knows???...so I will work until I get the call.
I love being here and the people we are working with are awesome.
We found a new family and they are doing great. The wife has attended twice all by herself, but here husband is always sooooo busy! But that’s how it goes. They are the family Laban Galvez (and for that reason alone, they have a particular interest in the BOM jaja.) Ana Cabrera is also getting ready for her baptism, the plan is that Christian Romero Nava (her nephew that we just baptized last month) will baptize her....Should be cool!
I think we beat the world missionary-pizza record....We ate PIZZA 5 times this week. And I know what you're thinking…but don’t freak out, you don’t know the value of pizza until you have eaten rice and chicken for 16 months straight. (By the way...a huge THANK YOU shout out to my awesome neighbor, Sister Borden, for buying us a pizza next week!!! Thank you VERY MUCH!)
I have never been so excited to work and to find and teach, and I know that these next 8months are going to be some of my most prized times ever, but 16 months is a long time, and I am starting to feel the gap between me and my family...I sure do miss you guys!
Well I am doing great, and am really excited for these next few couple of weeks.
I don’t really have anything to complain about, other than the usual rice rice rice, and unstoppable heat…but complaining won't fix it, so...
Love you all!
Elder Bradshaw
Monday, November 3, 2014
A regular Peruvian Week
Well, I don’t have too much to write this week....A couple of cool things, and a couple of not cool things... It really was just a regular week, nothing really too exciting. Just a regular Peruvian week: 60 bug bites on my legs, ants in my bed, sick stomaches, knocking doors, having a good time, and trying to throw down plates and plates of rice. Just regular.
This week, I just felt kinda down. Its always super hard to keep awake during the day, and just hard to get going. We didn’t see too much success this week, and we were just trying to keep on going. I think that’s the key.
Everything was just kinda so so, until Sunday. Sunday, I got up to usher or 'guard' the door during the sacrament because there weren’t any young men to do it. When I stood up there, I started counting all of the people that were there at church that I had been working with....and there was 17 people. Less actives, converts, members, and investigators. It was one of the moments when I really felt like I am fulfilling my duty. I’m not saying it’s my success, it’s success for the Lord...but man! I loved to see these people in the church! Almost every person which we are working with heavily came to church! Almost all of them! So awesome...people just were flowing in.
This week, we gave a new tie and white shirt to Christian, and it was so awesome to see him in church...He’s already looking like a bishop! He has lots of fear of people, but he got up to bear his testimony, and it was just so strong. He was testifying of the power of the BOM and of the church. Every week they surprise me more and more. The gospel has taking full charge of their family and they are just cruising along. So fun to work with them. This next week Christian will receive the Aaronic priesthood and then in a couple more weeks...the plan is that he will baptize his aunt!
Saturday in the afternoon, I was just thinking about the week and how crummy I felt. I really just felt tired, discouraged, and a little bit frustrated. I was thinking a lot about who I am, what I am doing, and the changes I had seen in my life in this year, and what I want to become. I realized that I needed to change a few things about my attitude, my way to work, and few more things. I just made up my mind, and just changed, and have been striving to form my character a little bit more. Starting that same day, I felt better, and until now, I feel better! Everything is going great. I don’t know...in these last few weeks, I have just felt a little “off”. I don’t know exactly where it was coming from, but I am feeling better now.
Just one little side note, I think I am filled with parasites.
(Not happy about this bit of information...but fatigue, we have learned after ‘googling’ all day is actually one of the symptoms of parasites.)
QUESTIONS:
So, without the pensionista…what are you guys doing for food in this apartment?
SO...recently we found a new pensionista! She is awesome and gives us lots of food. Once or twice a week, she gives us a plate filled with veggies...so it's going good. Usually in the night, we eat something small, or someone invites us to eat.
But...oh man...guess what??? They just opened a DOMINO'S pizza in Tumbes so today, we ate pizza and played bball! so fun!! And its 15 soles a pizza (5 bucks)...and 2x1 every Tuesday and Thursday....so we are pretty happy about that bit of news!
What things that you are learning in your mission do you think you would incorporate into your life at home?
I don’t know, its just an overall change. I think one of the biggest things I have learned is how real the gospel is. And how it applies to everything. When at home, I thought about church, mutual, school, swim, and everything, and always read and prayed...but I didn’t really pay much attention to it or the blessings or the “why”. Now I know the why, and can see the reason and importance of following all of the commandments. Also, I feel like my Spanish will help me a ton. I’ve developed a ‘work-hard’ attitude. I just feel more aware, and more calm.
What are some of your ‘aha’ moments?
This week I read 2 Nefi 9 and I just really had an “aha moment” of the consequences of sin. And really...the eternal blessings of the gospel.
Are you remembering to ‘Be Golden’?
I am trying to! With everyone I meet!
How was Halloween there?
To dress up...we just switched name tags and just said HAPPY HALLOWEEN to everyone. Here, they don’t do anything with Halloween, just a couple of parties for the kids. A family that we visit was really mad at the whole world about Halloween, because it’s not a “Peruvian holiday” jaja
And hey...when is Thanksgiving?
Well, I am fine, just going good and strong, looking and talking and teaching, and striving to be the best I can. I REALLY REALLY LOVE TEACHING. Seriously I just love doing it so much. It’s the best. Especially when the people understand, and act upon the principles we teach them!
Hope that everything is going well at home and that you are not all too trunky!
Elder Bradshaw
This week, I just felt kinda down. Its always super hard to keep awake during the day, and just hard to get going. We didn’t see too much success this week, and we were just trying to keep on going. I think that’s the key.
Everything was just kinda so so, until Sunday. Sunday, I got up to usher or 'guard' the door during the sacrament because there weren’t any young men to do it. When I stood up there, I started counting all of the people that were there at church that I had been working with....and there was 17 people. Less actives, converts, members, and investigators. It was one of the moments when I really felt like I am fulfilling my duty. I’m not saying it’s my success, it’s success for the Lord...but man! I loved to see these people in the church! Almost every person which we are working with heavily came to church! Almost all of them! So awesome...people just were flowing in.
This week, we gave a new tie and white shirt to Christian, and it was so awesome to see him in church...He’s already looking like a bishop! He has lots of fear of people, but he got up to bear his testimony, and it was just so strong. He was testifying of the power of the BOM and of the church. Every week they surprise me more and more. The gospel has taking full charge of their family and they are just cruising along. So fun to work with them. This next week Christian will receive the Aaronic priesthood and then in a couple more weeks...the plan is that he will baptize his aunt!
Saturday in the afternoon, I was just thinking about the week and how crummy I felt. I really just felt tired, discouraged, and a little bit frustrated. I was thinking a lot about who I am, what I am doing, and the changes I had seen in my life in this year, and what I want to become. I realized that I needed to change a few things about my attitude, my way to work, and few more things. I just made up my mind, and just changed, and have been striving to form my character a little bit more. Starting that same day, I felt better, and until now, I feel better! Everything is going great. I don’t know...in these last few weeks, I have just felt a little “off”. I don’t know exactly where it was coming from, but I am feeling better now.
Just one little side note, I think I am filled with parasites.
(Not happy about this bit of information...but fatigue, we have learned after ‘googling’ all day is actually one of the symptoms of parasites.)
QUESTIONS:
So, without the pensionista…what are you guys doing for food in this apartment?
SO...recently we found a new pensionista! She is awesome and gives us lots of food. Once or twice a week, she gives us a plate filled with veggies...so it's going good. Usually in the night, we eat something small, or someone invites us to eat.
But...oh man...guess what??? They just opened a DOMINO'S pizza in Tumbes so today, we ate pizza and played bball! so fun!! And its 15 soles a pizza (5 bucks)...and 2x1 every Tuesday and Thursday....so we are pretty happy about that bit of news!
What things that you are learning in your mission do you think you would incorporate into your life at home?
I don’t know, its just an overall change. I think one of the biggest things I have learned is how real the gospel is. And how it applies to everything. When at home, I thought about church, mutual, school, swim, and everything, and always read and prayed...but I didn’t really pay much attention to it or the blessings or the “why”. Now I know the why, and can see the reason and importance of following all of the commandments. Also, I feel like my Spanish will help me a ton. I’ve developed a ‘work-hard’ attitude. I just feel more aware, and more calm.
What are some of your ‘aha’ moments?
This week I read 2 Nefi 9 and I just really had an “aha moment” of the consequences of sin. And really...the eternal blessings of the gospel.
Are you remembering to ‘Be Golden’?
I am trying to! With everyone I meet!
How was Halloween there?
To dress up...we just switched name tags and just said HAPPY HALLOWEEN to everyone. Here, they don’t do anything with Halloween, just a couple of parties for the kids. A family that we visit was really mad at the whole world about Halloween, because it’s not a “Peruvian holiday” jaja
And hey...when is Thanksgiving?
Well, I am fine, just going good and strong, looking and talking and teaching, and striving to be the best I can. I REALLY REALLY LOVE TEACHING. Seriously I just love doing it so much. It’s the best. Especially when the people understand, and act upon the principles we teach them!
Hope that everything is going well at home and that you are not all too trunky!
Elder Bradshaw
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Full-speed ahead!
Well, I am sitting next to a new gringo who just started his mission on Wednesday, which causes me to say....Wow how have these 15 months passed by so dang fast!???
Well I am happy. I’m doing good. Just I’m soooooooo tired.
It’s really been full-speed ahead with work this week.... I don’t think I have ever been so tired and have worked so hard. After the baptism of the Familia Romero Nava, Elder Mulford and I have just been extremely motivated to find another family so we have just been going full speed, all day err day. We found a couple new people to teach, and even a new family, but its a little too early to see if they will choose to progress. On that note, I am doing fine.....Just 6:30...workworkworkworkworkworkworkworkwork...10:30 totally knocked out!.
I’m so TIRED!!!! (have I said that yet?)
Nothing really super awesome has happened this week, but I’ll hit some highlights.
The Familia Romero Nava: so we are still visiting them, reviewing the lessons and teaching their aunt (who is in Mosiah 20 in the Book of Mormon and pays her tithing regularly...wow and wow!) Every night, they give us food...But its not Peruvian food (rice, chicken, and soup). It’s food from Venezuela (which has more of an American influence I guess), so we are eating hot dogs, spaghetti, pizza, and hamburgers. IT IS SO GOOD. They are still progressing so well! Madelaine (wife) is now reading in DyC 60 or so (after finishing the BoM), and everyone is just going so good. They share the gospel, teach in the lessons, and are just so awesome!
So this week, I was looking for like 90 soles (30 dollars) and I just could not find it. I was looking looking and looking because I remembered that I left it on my desk, but I just could not find it. I tore apart everything, and still couldn't find it. I walked into the kitchen and desperately said a little prayer, and got the idea to look into the garbage....and there it was! Wow, once again I’m shown that God answers prayers! Don’t know how it got into there.
I have been growing so much lately. I can feel my testimony growing. In particular, I can really see how I am learning to follow the holy ghost. And I now feel like I am finally a capable missionary! jaja after 15 months.
Sorry, I really don’t know what to write. I think you guys are running out of ideas too, because dad wrote to me in his letter about him and Elli moving the harp....so it must be pretty boring at home. jaja (It actually was a big deal for Mike and Elli to be able to transport that thing around last weekend...but he may be right...things may be pretty boring here!)
Sorry...I don't really have new pictures either! It was just more of a work week.
Sorry, I am also just really empty headed right now.
But, I will say this...we are going to go get fresh passion fruit slushies right now....SO HA!
Hope you have a great week and that you are all doing good. Read the Book of Mormon everyday and just keep on going! Good luck moving that harp around. Love you all so much!
Elder Bradshaw
Well I am happy. I’m doing good. Just I’m soooooooo tired.
It’s really been full-speed ahead with work this week.... I don’t think I have ever been so tired and have worked so hard. After the baptism of the Familia Romero Nava, Elder Mulford and I have just been extremely motivated to find another family so we have just been going full speed, all day err day. We found a couple new people to teach, and even a new family, but its a little too early to see if they will choose to progress. On that note, I am doing fine.....Just 6:30...workworkworkworkworkworkworkworkwork...10:30 totally knocked out!.
I’m so TIRED!!!! (have I said that yet?)
Nothing really super awesome has happened this week, but I’ll hit some highlights.
The Familia Romero Nava: so we are still visiting them, reviewing the lessons and teaching their aunt (who is in Mosiah 20 in the Book of Mormon and pays her tithing regularly...wow and wow!) Every night, they give us food...But its not Peruvian food (rice, chicken, and soup). It’s food from Venezuela (which has more of an American influence I guess), so we are eating hot dogs, spaghetti, pizza, and hamburgers. IT IS SO GOOD. They are still progressing so well! Madelaine (wife) is now reading in DyC 60 or so (after finishing the BoM), and everyone is just going so good. They share the gospel, teach in the lessons, and are just so awesome!
So this week, I was looking for like 90 soles (30 dollars) and I just could not find it. I was looking looking and looking because I remembered that I left it on my desk, but I just could not find it. I tore apart everything, and still couldn't find it. I walked into the kitchen and desperately said a little prayer, and got the idea to look into the garbage....and there it was! Wow, once again I’m shown that God answers prayers! Don’t know how it got into there.
I have been growing so much lately. I can feel my testimony growing. In particular, I can really see how I am learning to follow the holy ghost. And I now feel like I am finally a capable missionary! jaja after 15 months.
Sorry, I really don’t know what to write. I think you guys are running out of ideas too, because dad wrote to me in his letter about him and Elli moving the harp....so it must be pretty boring at home. jaja (It actually was a big deal for Mike and Elli to be able to transport that thing around last weekend...but he may be right...things may be pretty boring here!)
Sorry...I don't really have new pictures either! It was just more of a work week.
Sorry, I am also just really empty headed right now.
But, I will say this...we are going to go get fresh passion fruit slushies right now....SO HA!
Hope you have a great week and that you are all doing good. Read the Book of Mormon everyday and just keep on going! Good luck moving that harp around. Love you all so much!
Elder Bradshaw
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