December 26, 2011

Happy new year! Ha, I like that we go from one holiday to the next.  Well that phone call/ video session was awesome! Crazy, but awesome!

I will let Brother Wagner know, but I think he got kind of upset because Elder Suzarte talked for almost 3 hours.

The new house looks great! Wow, I hardly didn´t reckognize it. And you all look super well! 

Don´t worry about tech difficulties! It was fun seeing and talking with you all. You all look great. I just feel like it wasn´t very personal, the phone call. Maybe in the future we could still do video chat, but in the office with limited people every time. And mom loved the phone call in the week right! It was pretty cool! And it didn´t even bother me! I just fealt great after!

Wow, Rumba is the place to be! Everyone works there! That is way cool!  Tell them Happy new year.

Hey what did daniel say about the spanish and portugues? That was interesting. Because i am somewhat familiar with spanish i could understand him, it was strange and a little dificult, but way cool! What did you all think about the portugues?? Pretty cool huh?! It is a language beautiful.  I think.

Oh the days of stugo and cafe rumba...how weird! Ashley is loving it right?  It really is an awesome part of life, but hectic! It only gets better smash.

You nailed it dad! It is exactly that, the air hockey.

Hope you love everything! Got to go!

 

Love you all,

Elder Bradley J. Dawson

Talking to Bradley!

December 19, 2011

Dear Fam,

Christmas is still way far away! You don’t need details on the phone call yet....(and now imagine that i am begging) Please don’t kill me, but i don’t have the details yet! It looks like it will be just a phone call, but i am looking at the options. We have arranged with a member, but his internet is really slow and does not have a web cam. But i was going to call anyways, with or without webcam, because it would be really obnoxious talking only through the internet. But if skype doesn’t work really, i was thinking my old gmail.  But it looks like i will call early this week with all the details, don’t worry! I want you all to go to church and especially let dad sing in a quartet, should be awesome! And, based on when I received your email dad, looks like it is a 5 hour difference here. So i could call at night, which would be afternoon for you all. But I will let you know this week!...Hello, this is mike from the Arizona Republic in regards to your account....don’t hang-up mom! ha. I won’t be cruel.

Wow! Torrin is in the Mtc! How crazy! I will be sure to send him a letter asap. He will love it. The Lundbergs are pros at this by now, but let them know that he is in the best place right now. How long will he be in the Mtc? 2 months right? The portugués and the spanish missionaries like to try and confuse each other and do contacts with the other...but it didn’t work with me! I knew them both, ha! But someone was speaking spanish with me the other day and it was way confusing, i understood just about everything, but still hard.

The pics were great! The house really looks amazing! and that is awesome looking at all the missionary plaques up there.  Oh, and tell Bishop Edwards, My travel buddy, Sister Edwards, and the whole Edwards clan hi!

Wow, one year ago we were sailing for mexico , haha. That is weird, it feels like a lifetime ago! That is still crazy, Christmas day we were swinging through the jungles in mexico .

Mom, summer right now is actually pretty cool! It is different and new. But I still laugh every time i see a man dressed up as Santa sweating to death. Poor guy. He has got to be losing weight like crazy! And yeah there are a lot of different constellations here, it is pretty cool, but I haven’t looked at them very closely or anything yet. I tried taking a picture of them, but it doesn’t come out right.

The Christmas party looks like it was awesome, and Brother Holmgren looked like the real deal! You too dad, I hope you realize that you will be stuck as Santa at Mtn. Ridge for years to come.  Your elders went to the party too?! What is all of this about! Ha, i saw the picture, their belts are practically breaking! Joking. But that is awesome. Keep on treating them nice, i am awaiting the karma. ha. Mom, you have a Bradley shrine? what is this?! I have a few choice scriptures i would like to share with you, but I will give  you the chance to burn the shrine and repent this week. :) What is the shrine?

I bet Dan and Nicole did awesome! I would love to read their talks. Hint hint. I would send my talk about tithing...but i didn’t write anything. ha! And i am awaiting the day when i get sit next to those little munchkins again.

Oh and I am game for another cruise when I come back mom, I was thinking the Mediterranean sea ??? :)

Go Ashley go! Get every scholarship you can! This is the time to do it, don’t wait until senior year. All the really good ones are early, like right now. You will do great Sis, good luck! Praying for ya! I always hated group projects because of that too, I like doing them alone.

The Christmas festivities sound great! Rudolph’s express should be a hit. When you are at cafe rumba send them a hug for me...except Fernando. Kidding! And tell them that i am homesick for a baja quesadilla with beef, green chilis, baja sauce, and the orange hot sauce. mmmm. And the super nachos.

So this week we started teaching a very special family, Simone, the mom, is a member less active and is addicted to drugs, her mom, Maria, has some health problems that prevent her from walking and darnlei, son of simone, has about 12 years and has already placed in 3 or 4 skate championships. We are helping them get back on the right path. When i first talked to simone she said that she didn’t believe in God because her 15 year old daughter passed away 2 years ago. It was rather unexpected. But we are helping them build their faith and stop with all off the harmful substances. Prayers headed their way would be helpful.

Gabriel, 15 years old, is having trouble reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it. He has waited some time and says that he has lost interest in reading everything. He recognizes it as a problem, but after this and reading the talk by elder Arder from the past general conference, laziness really is a sin, you are allowing satan to enter and perturb all of your righteous plans. We are helping him to read, but ultimately it comes from him.

We helped Dilson and Lara paint their house this week and it was great! We are still trying to help them receive an answer.

I am so grateful for you all and am so glad that you all are well! How is the health of everyone there? Really, I want to know.

This a special time of year when we can give our all to the Savior!

Love you all and don’t worry, I am working on the phone call!

Elder Bradley Joseph Dawson

December 12, 2011

Querida Família!

Mom, you can not start a letter with Happy Christmas... Feliz Natal! I am loving talking to all the people about the birth of Christ and His life/ministry. Reading about it too! Wow, Torrin is out the door practically! That is so cool. I am so happy for him, And they should have an amazing speaker and fireside in the mtc. And dinner!! I am so happy to see everyone serving mission. The few things i can say for him right now is, love your companion and fear the Lord only. Allegiance first to Him, second to the pres of the mission and third your comp. 

Wow, Torrin got set apart early, are they driving him up or something? It would be really neat to visit the temples on the way up or something. What was the topic of Torrins talk? Hey, Bjorn really will be alone with his parents...that should be weird at first, ha. poor guy. Tell him to serve a mission! I could train him down here. 

Mom you really are going to fatten up the missionaries there...alot. Ha, muddy buddys and cereal. Muddy buddies don´t exist here and cereal is way expensive...but i did recieve some watermelon the other day! :) But keep on feeding them, I bet they are loving it!

Elder Holland´s talk was great, he is an excellent speaker and you can definetly feel the spirit when he is teaching. We recently got the liahona with all of the general conference talks...i am in heaven! Ha, it is so great reading those talks and having an archive right in front of me. One of my favorite things is studying those talks during any moment we aren´t doing anything, rare, but it happens!

Good luck with all the cold up there! I am taking in enough sun for you all ha. I think the peak of heat is in january. But i´ll let you know when i get there. Everyone says that it is cold for this time of year right now. But good news...and a miracle, I haven´t burned yet!! Just a little playing soccer the other pday, but working, nope! and it is funny you should pity the people in santa costumes here because they really are suffering, ha. But the other night we were just going to bed when a parade of coka cola trucks passed blasting Christmas music and had a santa on top! 

Oh and my boxes arrived :) And a package from Nicole and Dan! I know that i got a book of some kind...but i am resisting the urge to peek. And i got some letters too! We haven´t received anything in so long and..boom! I got a ton all at once.  And no, i didnt go to the churrasco english event, only one set of elders went, and they are two americans so it would be better. And i don´t know dad, the practice for bass drum would have been nice...i didn´t know how to play anything! But i got the hang of it. They should be fine!

The phone call, again! Ha, kidding. So it is true, we can use skype to talk to you all! For one hour. I would switch skype for 2 hours, but i´ll take what i can get. We don´t know where or what time yet, but we will get that arranged this week. 

Hope the Christmas party goes well!

Happy Birthday Ashley! Wow, 17, I don´t believe it...more like i refuse to believe it! That is crazy! You must be so big and grown up now ;), one rule, you are not allowed to date anyone, and i lied, second rule, you have to get rid of that Twilight poster in your room. Happy bday stinkypinky, you really are very special and an example for me.Where will be bday dinner?

And Nicole has a bday coming up too! That is way exciting! Congrats! You are how old now?? 26 right? I decided to be nice, i know how the brothers will be playing cruel jokes this next week :)

So it finally happened, Ashley killed the mustang...kidding! But i was kind of expecting it to die any time now. Let me know what the new pick is!

So this week we were leaving a appointment that fell through and while looking down at my planner i heard a lady yelling elders! So we went over, shared a message with her. She has been less active for along time now but she went to church and the Christmas activity and is very back now! Quite eccentric sometimes actually, ha. Her name is maria.

Carlos and Jane- They are awesome and genuine people! We met with them again last night and they are just with alot of doubts. But we talked to them about pray and receiving an answer. So we will see how it goes :) I am really excited about them, they would be such a strong addition to our ward. They have a son Lucas,12, who is way smart. He has already skipped a few grades and when he figured out that i was from Phoenix he went and studied all about it and talked to me about it yesterday, ha! Carlos lived 25 years in Uruguia and has a heavy accent, but it is really cool! 

So yesterday i gave my 25 minute talk on tithing! But they only gave me 15 minutes and i could have kept going for...who knows how long. My notes...a list on the back of the invitation to speak. ha, way cool! 

I am so gratefull for this special time i have to serve the Lord and help my Salvador. This is a very special time of year when we can be closer to the spirit. With everyone trying to do a little better the spirit will be stronger. We can take advantage of this time to grow ourselves too. One of the best ways to grow ourselves is help someone else to grow too. Love you all and Feliz Natal!

Elder Bradley Joseph Dawson

December 5, 2011

Querida família,

The pics you sent were great dad! Thanks for the talk too! I will print that out today with the talk that President Swenson sends out every week. I heard That Elder Holland dominated everyone in this talk. I haven´t gotten the liahona from general conference yet, but i am waiting anxiously! One of my favorite things to do at night is grab one of the old liahona´s in our house and read some of the talks. The latest one was about the parabol of the good samaratin and all of the meanings inside. It was really good! You should look it up, although i don´t remember who wrote it or the title. 

So the transfers was today and Elder Suzarte and myself are going to remain here. We only have one elder here in bage that is leaving really. So Christmas will be in Bagé! Wooo! It is really kind of funny how everyone is in the street sweating and hiding under every little shadw they pass, and hanging up snowmen and little santas! ha! I thought it was really funny. And i have the little nativity set adam and fam sent and a paper Christmas tree that i will put up! I will have to send pictures. Vagner invited us to his house...along with alot of people. We are really in doubt of where we will go because we have quite a few invites. Vagner is a member excommunicated...but has a very strong testimony and is working his way back. We are making really great progress with the family dele. I feel like a part of the family there! THeir house is really similar to ours, characteristics, not the structure.

Ha, we didn´t really have a turkey dinner, BUT! There is a english school here that told me and the other two americans they will have all you can eat churrasco, they just want us to chat with the students for an hour, we can even teach them all! So that will be awesome. I am going to count that as thanksgiving.

Torrin is speaking this sunday...weird! But way cool! He is going to do great. yes, i have advise, don´t imagine everyone w/o clothes, that is against virtue. Kidding, but it will be awesome. I am actually speaking this sunday too. 25 minutes of tithing and fast offerings... woo! And yesterday i gave the elder´s quorumn and the gospel principles class, both on the spot. It actually went pretty well too. What will be the theme of Torrin´s talk? He doesn´t have to worry, he won´t see these people for 2 years! Did he ever get my letter?

And don´t hate me, but i still haven´t received info about calling you all for Christas! But staying in town is a good idea. It is going to be so weird talking to all of you on the phone...i just left it feels like! Dad, you can´t march alone! Force one of the  boys to do the march with you!

Yes Mom...i am carrying a waterbottle with me and accepting water at everyhouse, haha. They gave us a filtered watter bottle for the mission. I can pretty much fill it with whatever i want and the water will come out clean! Neat huh! BUt it cooled down a few days ago but it is heating up again. It was snowing there???It must be global warming...pfff.

SOunds like it was a fun night at the Hunter´s! Miley is huge now huh...it is so weird. I am not even going to reconize them when i return. Miley will be...6 years old? or 5? Either way...way weird.

So the house is just about done?! That must be cool. People think it is funny how Lucy can´t run up the stairs, she just stays at the bottom and barks. There are some yorkies here, not as many as in porto alegre, but i like strinking up a conversation about how i have some too back in az and i am here serving a mission for 2 years...works great!

Bairs and Edwards, say hello back! And that i am expecting a wedding invite from both of those families shortly. CLint and Matt have my permission to get married while i am gone.

No, i don´t hear alot of news about what is happening there, mostly people just want me to translate music for them. But aobout once r twice in the week i talk to someone that says alot of political trash or something about or country that is completely wrong...so i just sit quite and listen, unfortunatley i can not discuss this. But that is exciting that the church is getting o much publicity from the presidential campaign. How is the Blitz going there? The missionaries aught to be loving it.

July-July is still waiting on baptism, we don´t want to throw it at her again right now. But she still needs to learn and grow alot. 

Lara, Dilson, Lucas-They are still reading the Book of Mormon and praying, as of a few days ago they have still not received an answer, but i know they will! They are awesome and just need to find some time to go to church. They smoke, not lucas,  a little too. But i am really excited about them.

Danilo- Danilo is about 26 years old and is one of the special police of the military. He is jacked. but we visited him yeasterday and his sister and bro in law showed up and we really   curious about our work and what we have to share. His sister is Carmen and his broinlaw is Vitor. So we are giong to visit them this weekend. Unfortunately they are all way busy. But they are planning on visiting the USA this coming year and i told them to pass on by...hope you don´t mind! Kidding. But they are way excited to visit New York. 

Tiago- Tiago says he knows these things are true, he just has alot of vices that are holding him back. Doctrine and covenants says that the elite of the Senhor will accept these things easliy, like they already knew it. But Satan can still have his hands on them too. So we are really going to start pushingt hard to get him off cigarretes and some other things.

I am very grateful for your examples in my life, i think about them every day and think about how i can be a better person because of them.

You should receive some more pictures next week!

Love,

Elder Bradley J. Dawson