October 24, 2011

Opah!

Believe it or not, we say that a lot!

Well the transferencia is today! Elder Jùlio César is going away, it is a sad day, he says Oi for the last time. We don´t know where he is going, but we are pretty sure that it is in Porto Alegre. Our zone is having major changes actually. They are closing the zone leader´s area... and 6 of our 10 missionaries in this zone are leaving. So this should be exciting! I am really going to miss Elder Julio. He is a great guy, for a Mineiro. Mineiro means he is from minus gerais.

Dland sounds like it was awesome, but you did have to wait a little longer, ha! I have decided that I am only going to dland when one of my kids breaks something or has surgery...I aint waiting in those lines!

Trunk or treat coming up, legal! The chili sounds amazing, it makes a lot of time that I have ate chili...this sentence makes sense in Portuguese. But they don´t celebrate Halloween, well not really. Some of the stores are selling some costumes and things but my companion says that kids don´t go door to door getting candy. But they have Dia das Bruxas. Which is day of the witches. It is a day of some parties but not really popular. But we will see when it gets here! It is really really weird that Halloween is already here, it feels like May...June, somewhere around there.

Thanks dad! The flash drive is great; I am going to get some pics on from my email today. And zebra refills would be awesome. 

Do it! Start studying Portuguese, it is a language really beautiful. And you would be able to understand all the Spanish and they can only get a little of what you’re saying! Ha! It will be awesome talking with Torrin, Bentz, Parker, all of those Spanish speakers. But I have been dreaming more in Portuguese as of late, well I am remembering them now.

I bet your missionaries there are loving this media campaign, I wish they had something like that here! 

Church is in the national spotlight? Mitt Romney running again? Is it that time already? When is the election?

And yes, we walk through a lot of country area. And this week got hot and humid! Wow, ha, I have already gained my stripes...tan/burn lines from my white shirt. And I am not sure how long a package takes to get there because I don´t know when they arrive there in the office but I think it is 3 to 4 weeks, something like that? And Christmas...you are already planning for Christmas??

Bentz is in the Field! Woo! It is so exciting seeing how many missionaries we have serving from our ward. He should convert Diego and Maria while he is up there. 

So I am guessing Ashley is super busy right now! Tell her to have fun! This should be a hectic...but good time in her life. Oh and that all the Brasilians love her name, they say it is really pretty.

When is the big move of Dan and Nicole? Oh and I love those pictures they are sending! I am using some of them for my agenda; I glue the pictures and after pass plastic over them.

How could you do this to me....you got rid of the big shaggy rug??? I don´t think you understand, that was my bed and workout area.

Tiago- So we postponed his baptismal date and have to work really slowly with him, he is really smart, but really really busy. He is running a business, working at the prison, and building his own house with any spare time. But we helped him Saturday with some construction, we moved a lot a lot of dirt in the hot hot sun, but it was fun! I felt really weird in normal clothes. We got to talk and meet some more of his family too. 

Marcelina- Marcelina is from the church menonita, Mennonites? But she doesn´t really agree with a lot of things there and has been telling all the members there that she is receiving those young men with ties and white shirts in her house, ha. She has mas ou menos 55 anos and always researches our lessons using the Book of Mormon and the bible. 

Well I got to go but just letting you all know that I love life and love what I am doing! Pedi e recebereis, bate e servos a aberto.

Elder Bradley J. Dawson

October 10, 2011

Oi Família!

My week is going great! Thanks! We found about 12 new investigators this week I think things are really starting to pick up :) We are getting more firm appointments too and that is helping. Chimarrão, mom? Yeah! I think you would like it too after that hibiscus thing you liked. The gauchos even drink this in the summer (it is a hot drink). They say that it refreshes them...I don´t understand it, but I like it! It is not coca cola or anything like that, it is actually bitter, but good. Sometimes they will put sugar in it to sweeten it or peels from fruit, but only the women do this.

Wow! New home for the Hunters and you all had to move furniture without me; we all know that I am the strongest male son...ha! But its okay, I was sweating just as much. It always gets way hot and wet before a storm and I was wishing I could swim. Does the Hunter´s new house have a pool? I want pictures! Oh and I have to say thank you to Nicole and Dan for sending that picture collage thing, I love it! The girls are getting sooo big. I don´t feel like I have been gone long, but they look 10 years older. Especially Bean.

Wow, getting cold already? The weather in AZ always gets bi-polar during this time. But how is Lucy doing? Still plump and loving life? Does she ever get sad without Tobius? That is good to hear about the athletic director coming to her senses. How is that new club? Ashley quitting acadeca may be sad, but you got to do what you got to do! And have fun! I always had fun, sometimes a little too much. But have fun IN the work that is key. But you have already got that.

Columbus Day?! Woo! Feliz Columbus Day everyone. Tomorrow is Dia Das Criancas for us. It is pretty much a second Christmas. Dad and Mom, did you two go sledding in Flagstaff? Was there even snow this time? Little America was the best vacation. And Outback is good too! It just isn´t Brasilian ;)

Wow it sounds like everyone is moving around! The house won´t even be the same when I get back. Mom you have freedom to do whatever you want with my room, I´m not using it for a good long time!

Yes, I will have to wait for the Liahonna to hear about the Priesthood session of conference. But I heard Elder Holland destroyed everyone...awesome. Wow! They are putting temples up in so many places! That is so awesome! Our stake has a temple trip coming up and everyone is way excited. I wonder what the France temple will look like. I know the Rome one is was cool.

I did not get the second package...but a flash drive is perfect! I was actually thinking about buying one today, but I will just wait. And as you will see, I found a computer that has an operating usb drive for my camera. I think I will try one of the pens here for a little, but in the future what you can do dad is just send the refillable ink of the zebra pen. I still have some of the empty ones. But they could break...

Haha, I was laughing pretty hard at the bird story mom! That is going in the Book of Mom.

Elder Júlio Cesar said that last night I was doing a contact with someone in Portuguese in my sleep.  I don´t remember my dreams now for some reason, but I would say that this is a pretty good indicator that the language is going well :)

This past Friday we were walking and it was hot hot hot and wet wet wet. But then a ton of wind started and a HUGE really black cloud appeared. Everyone was leaving the cloud and going home and we were the only ones in the street, it was pretty cool. You all can use this as a metaphor of your choosing.

-Tiago & Lucy- they are doing well! They couldn´t go to church yesterday but they are being very receptive and I´m sure we will see good things. Tiago is really, really busy. He works as a security guard at the prison in our other area and has a business with another guy installing and fixing air conditioners and he is building his own house right now!
-Dalzira- So the doctors were treating her for the wrong thing and she almost passed away...but she is doing way better now and she will leave the hospital soon.
-Tania, Jane, Rosy, Bruno, and Family- This was a reference from a member and they are really an awesome family! The youngest is 17 anos I think and they love us. They have a snack place in front of their house and tell us to stop by and get something anytime! But they will be great, Really I have only been there once because we did splits the other time.

Doing this work is the best thing in the world! We are helping so many people find the one and only Church of God. We talk to so many people of other faiths, good people, that enjoy the clear, bold Doctrine of Christ we offer. The Spirit testifies of this to them and can testify to all those that will open their hearts, even a small desire to know the truth will bring the Spirit.

I love you all,

Elder Bradley J. Dawson

October 3, 2011

Querido Família,

Conference was great! We got to watch Saturday afternoon and the 2 sessions on Sunday. They were presented and translated live. I didn´t have a problem understanding anything! But I missed out on the Priesthood session, I hear that Elder Holland was awesome, as usual, and where are the new temples? And the Provo tabernacle? Where and what is that? How is the temple by our house going? Lots of progress? 10 minutes from the house...crazy!

Yes, I have gotten not only my package from the fam, but from Amanda and her Mom too! I opened the front of the box and candy literally spilled out. But thank you so much! I got them this week because one of the missionaries had to go to the office in Porto Alegre during the week. But needless to say, Elder Júlio and I are loving all the snacks :) Especially all of the starburst! The Brasilians Love it!! Ha. But they are perfect. And thanks for the duct tape Amanda and `Queen Mum`...even if it is PINK! Ha, kidding. It will be put to good use. We are going to use some of the candy for a family night tonight. Oh and the muddy buddies were a nice touch. Dad, I am actually out of black pens, I killed them all. But your blue pen arrived in time, mine is dying.

Elder Júlio says Hi only to Ashley in a joking manner...very funny. But he says hi. He is a funny guy. But speaking in church last Sunday was great. Had an outline, a citation, and a good talk! Portuguese was not a problem. And no, I am not teaching English here. Our area is so far away that it would be pretty silly, I thought about it though. Something you could send? Bah, I think I am good here. 

Mom it really doesn´t feel like the seasons are approaching because the weather is way different! But things are good this week. We are getting a lot of new investigators, it is just really difficult to find any of them at home.

Everything sounds awesome there. Ashley- The new admin are being ridiculous. You know that you are right and tell them that. You are doing a service for FREE. They need to understand that.

Yesterday at conference a lot of the members like to stay at the building in between and have lunch outside in the grass where they can drink chimarrão and talk. It was really great.

If you all could pray that we can find our investigators at home and fulfill promises that would be great! 

Tiago- Tiago is 22 years old and is awesome, the first thing he said to us was concerning his desire to be baptized in a church that baptizes by immersion...This speaks for itself. But we are teaching his mom Lucy too and things are going great. 

This past week was the birthday of Elder Júlio so I got us a pizza and it was great! He turned 22 and now has 3 and a half months left on the mission.

I love you all and am so grateful for your examples in my life.

Love,

Elder Bradley J. Dawson

September 26, 2001

Dear Family,

Haha, I know right?! I have a package arriving any day and I am shipped to Uruguay practically! But I love it here! It is bem tranquilo. All of the people are way calm and accepting, maybe a little too calm sometimes. But a funny story from Porto Alegre. I batted palms at a house, we clap here and don´t knock doors, and this lady opened the door and just said (Eu não gosto de vocês!) and closed the door. Haha I am pretty sure you can tell what that means. And on the same street 10 minutes later I started talking to this man of 50 years outside his house, all he said was (I can teach you both about the bible). Elder Araúju...well he likes his knowledge. I successfully stopped a bible bash, had a conversation, taught something simple using the bible, and he said that he had to go real fast and left! It was pretty awesome. 

A soccer jersey would be way awesome! But seriously, they are pricey, don´t go crazy!

Elder Júlio César says Hi to the fam too! Literally he said (hi). I very well could finish him off on the mission! I would like that, he is an awesome Elder and is very knowledgeable. And really funny! We get along really well. Honestly he reminds me of Bjorn Lundberg, it is scary sometimes...joking! And I still remember your promise Bjorn... But yeah, we live smack dab in the middle of Bagé. It was cool because the 20th of September had a giant parade in front of our apartment housing! And a lot a lot a lot of horses. I took some pictures and a video, but it is really pretty amazing and indescribable. It sounds like rain inside our house when they passed, because of all of the hoofs on the cobble stone street.  The city is 200 years old and has some pretty cool old houses. The maçons founded the city so they have some monuments here. It doesn´t help because we already have a ton of missionaries that are crazy about the maçons. But it is neat to see.  Our area lays to the south and west of the city. Just look up the ward, ala, Tiarujú on the church site. But we have the bairros: passo das pedras, Tiarujú, gaúcha, vila florest, lagoão da pedra, and everwhere near there! Our building right there by the hospital is the Stake Center. So we did not have to travel far and we don´t have to go too far for general conference. I am so excited! The ward is a ward with the numbers of a Branch. But they are all great and Vanderlei was there yesterday trying to tickle us and tease as always. The ward has a lot a lot of potential and is ready to grow. I felt the spirit a lot yesterday in their sacrament meeting. Oh and i gave a talk :)

On the street they have a ton of (Pancho) which is like that hot dog except better. But they also have a lot of pastries filled with meat and deliciousness. I love all of the food here.  I now have a new favorite meat. Chicken heart. It is the best. Straight off the fire and spit is great. But i have only had this a few times including last week.

They have a wide variety of accents in Brasil, every state is way different! But here in Bagé it is the same, just more thick. Of the gaúcho accent. And yes I spoke a little English 2 or 3 times in Porto Alegre. But here I speak a little Spanish sometimes. Our house is nice, really it is an apartment, but I like it more than my last one.

Sounds like all of the nieces and nephews are great! Miley and Anya are even on my planner!  Wow, not gonna lie, it was really hard to picture where Brandon and Alyssa are moving! But everyone is staying close! 

-Are you going to Idaho?! That would be way cool. Are they still together?

Who is working at cafe rumba still? Chelsey Merrell is in Russia right now?

Haha well I am glad Brandon and Alyssa are keeping the blog updated although I know that no one reads it :)

So we are teaching a Dalzira.  She is way old and actually in the hospital right now.  We are continuing to visit her there but this has also opened her family up to us. They are all great and we are working and praying for her. 

We have a lot of new investigators this week, a lot, but it is way harder to encounter them a second time. But please pray that we can encounter Miron, Bruna, Leitiçia, José, Fabiani, Kuchassi, Moíses. 

I am loving the work and am so grateful for the opportunity I have to share this gift with the people here. I know that my Salvador Lives, He is the great Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Messiah of the New. He suffered for all of us, taking upon himself all of our sins and imperfections. I know that he delights more than anything watching His brothers and Sisters come to Him. This is the joy and glory He has. Our salvation and well being.

Much love from Bagé,

Elder Bradley J. Dawson