February 27, 2012

Well hello!!!

Sorry it is so late! But we found out that i will be transfered tomorrow and have been crazy busy all day! We moved up our district party to today, we reached some goals and did churrasco! But that and packing get pretty hectic. But as you can see in the pics, Danusa got baptized this last saturday!! That was great, and i got to give her the Holy Ghost on Sunday.

I have not gotten the packages or anything, but i am looking forward to it :) I am sad to be leaving Elder De Oliveira, but i am exciting to hit the ground running in this new area.

I am really short on time because we have an appointment here in a little bit but i just want to say that i absolutely, with out a doubt love what i am doing. I am really on the Lord´s errand, this is 2 years where i am literally seperated from the world and all it´s distractions to show my love to my Savior through my service. I know that Jesus Christ is at the head of this church. He is the all powerful that directs every action. This is His church real and alive in our days. Many people celebrate Him through the cross. We celebrate a Christ alive, in glory and power that is here in each one of His saints to save the children of our very real God. 

He suffered for us, bleed at every pore, until the very depths of His soul. I will not make His  suffering in vain. Our goal, our divine calling, is to declare these things to all those under the influence of the many distractions and attacks of the enemy.

I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It testifies of Christ in a way so special, so clear, that everyone that reads it with a heart turned to Christ will find their Savior and find peace.

I love you all and am very gratefull for your influences in my life.

Love,

Elder Bradley J. Dawson

Dear Family...And Ethan Hunter!

Wow, what an exciting week! That is so cool! I loved all of the pictures! He doesn´t look like a gordinho...little fatty, like you all are saying, but either way, we have found our new bubba! Haha! But i am so happy that he and Nicole are both okay and super healthy. I have been remember them in my prayers. And it was getting close to midnight! Almost born on the 17th! While Ethan was not given my name, I forgive him and his parents. Kidding! That is way cool that brother Erickson got to deliver the baby too.

So how was it with Miley and Anya staying around for a few days? Glad you already passed that stage mom and dad? Ha, i am sure it was a giant party. How are the girls responding to Ethan? It must be interesting to see them together, how they act and everything. But it looks like, from the pictures sent, that they love him already!

It looks like Ashley is living life up to the fullest! Going skiing and everything. Did you take a picture Ashley? Everyone would like to see some snow here, including me, ha. It sounds like it was a really fun trip. and congrats on the prom invite! That should be way cool. Taylor is a cool kid. But this is my official warning, anything happens and i will send some of my less friendly friends that i met in the street after you Taylor...hahaa....but seriously.

Wow you all really loved that picture of our area huh?! It is super small huh, but way cool. Yes Dad, we live in those apartments there, they have a basketball and vball court there where we play on pday. We actually played today for a good long while with Elders Nascimento, Hunsacker, Simão and Lindsey. That was way fun. So if you continue to look at our area, we mostly walk in the part up top, the Dunas. There is a lot of work there.
Oh and that is cool that you looked up the prices of coca cola...i wouldn´t know since we cant drink it! ha, kidding. I am actually fine. But when i get back we will have plenty of thirst buster trips mom...

I am going to look out for that google van and run along the side of it!

Well since i am still far from the office i have not gotten the vday package, only when someone goes up to porto alegre or they come down. It could be until the transfer now.

Oh! And i was thinking about bday, I think my white shirts are mostly okay for now. But maybe 1 or 2 would be nice. The rest, you don´t even need to! I am fine :)

I am glad that everything went well with your proceadure mom, that is a big relief. And you even got a specail lunch for vday!

Sad news...Danuza and Karina were not baptized. They canceled friday morning...the day of the baptism so we had to cancel and notify everyone else too. Well maybe one day in the future...but we are working on finding new investigators. But Lúcia is as great as ever! Very firm and we are helping her to stop smoking. After that we are helping her to get married, then baptism :) We are looking for chances to talk more with the whole family now.
The weather has not cooled down mom, ha. But yesterday it was super hot, then it started pouring freezing rain and then some hail! Crazy huh! And don´t worry, we stayed safe.

Well with our baptisms that fell we are looking for some new people to teach now! With lots of potencial! That is going to be a big focus this week.

I love you all and am looking forward to your email!

something interesting- we like to eat popcorn in house, we buy the kernals, put them in a pan with oil and go! Way good :)

Elder  Bradley J. Dawson

February 13, 2012

Hey!!

So my english is feeling way better today, sorry about last week, that was really frustrating! This past week was amazing! It was filled with great experiences. Elder De Oliveira and myself dominated every goal of the mission! woo!

 

So a little more about Pelotas? Pelotas is super humid, gets pretty hot, and likes to rain randomly, but that last part is generally fun! Pelotas is pretty flat mom, don´t worry! Ha, our area is very small too. But there is still plenty of work in our little area. Our area is more like a desert but still very green, hard to explain really, whereever there is water, something is growing. And pelotas is a big city, it has 400,000people or something like that, and it is interesting, but there are not a ton of gauchos like in Bagé. Ocassionaly you see someone dressed like a gaucho, but not everyone like in Bagé. I actually miss it too. The people here are much more active and are much more focused on progression in life, all in all a good thing. So Elder De Oliveira is from Sorocaba, São paulo like i said. He has 22 months on the mission and i have actually already worked with him once before on splits way back in Ipanema. His parents are both members too. And he has a girl waiting for him! But that last part is getting pretty complicated, ha. Elder and Sister Askonavieta have a assignment in Brasil so they are always traveling.  I know that he is always going to Sao Paulo but I don´t know where else he is assigned.

 

Stake Conference was great! President and Sister Swenson came and spoke/ shared testimony for everyone. It was very special. President had all of us missionaries stand up and talk a little bit. I already am missing him and Sister Swenson and they go away in July.  Lúcia, Danuza, Jennifer and Caua went with us to stake conference. The stake center is way nice...you have got to look it up, it is huge and beautiful. Look up the stake center for Pelotas Norte. I think that when the church grows even bigger here they will turn it into a temple. Still would have to remodel, but it will happen.

 

Yes! Danuza and Karina are still scheduled for baptism this friday! That will be way exciting and we will send some pics :)

 

Wow! Well this upcoming email i am expecting baby pics! Good luck with everything! I am remembering Nicole and the Baby in my prayers.

 

Wow, Ashley is playing alot! What was the theme of convention? Hey send a big hi for Doug Evans, that guy is the man. and how is prom going??? that is coming up way quick!

 

Valentines day?? that is weird! I think i will just celebrate the bday of arizona...have any pics from the grandkids vday party??

 

Brandon and Daniel that is crazy waiting an answer from everyone! One that will cahange your life too! Good luck with everything! Stay close to home :)

 

Kyle put his papers in?! That is awesome! I am anxiously waiting for the news! My official guess is europe....london? They deserve strong missionaries like Kyle over there. Kyle this will be the best thing you ever do and you will love every minute of it. While I could do nothing to look after my family while I was at home, although I like to think that i could, it is all in the Lord´s hands and we have His promise that they will be okay, He takes way better care of them than we ever could.

 

Sam has got to be loving a new comp and life! And he is training! How cool! Unfortunately that will probasby not happen with me for a while. There are a ton of old missionaries on our mission and still alot of missionaries with more time than me that still haven´t trained. But that is so cool.

 

Funny you should wish me happy bday mom, sister swenson gave me cookies and everyone sang happy bday to me and some others in a conference! Maybe some white shirts would be nice, these are getting distgusting because of sweat stains, but wait until next week, i am going to blast them with whitener. Or ties?? But polyester please, silk and rain don´t go together realy well. But i will think about the bday this week.

 

Bri! I have planned to write her back today! tell her hi and that i miss her. Oh and to show the letter crisis i am in, i finished writing a letter today that i started 3 pdays ago....Oh and mom, give amanda a hug for me, since i can´t.

Mom, another proceadure?! You just have to stay ahead of daniel and me huh? Well it is not a game and congrats, you won! kIDDING. I will be remembering you in my prayers mom, everything will be okay.

 

Hey Ashley, Daniel told me that some jerk wrote beautiful girl on your fbook and he isn´nt even member! Don´t go inviting whatever brasilian you see! I don´t even know that kid!

 

Your activity coming up sounds awesome Dad! Be sure to take pics! and good luck on the test!

 

Well I don´t have alot of time, but I love you all and am glad you are all doing well, truly have a blessed family.

Elder Bradley J. Dawosn

February 6, 2012

Heeey family,

So i know you are all super excited to hear about the amazing two baptisms and how awesome they were!!!.....well they didn´t happen, ha. Sorry! Karina had already marked an appointment for a photoshoot(15th bday party) about a month ago and she couldn´t get it moved so she would not be able to be confirmed this past sunday, so we postponed the baptisms until 2 weeks from now(stake conference is this week). But we will be excited to get those on the way and we will be helping them to gain a testimony stronger too. 

Our ward is awesome! The wife of Elder Askonavieta, of the seventy, is the best too. Whenever we enter in the chapel with an investigator she is right there like glue. She is the perfect helper. We had lunch at their house this past week too. An awesome family, they talked about how they went to Arizona and actually have remembrance of the Mesa temple. That was pretty cool. They liked it a lot, but even they didn´t like the heat :). I am pretty sure it is hotter at home. It is just way way more hyumid here. Like you don´t drive off. It gets pretty crazy! Especially weird when it is raining and super hot and humid, you don´t want to get soaked from rain, but you are allready getting soaked in sweat! Hey but sometyimes people have pity on us.

I am just going to apologize right now, i don´t know why, but i am suffering trying to write in english....nothing is coming out right and i am not reaching the words i want. Hey but thats a good thing right?? Oh and our internet place´s energy went out and i don´t have a bunch of time now because they close for lunch, but i will get writing.

I will Tell Daniel O. to send another request...but not for Ashley! For mine! Who is taking care of it? 

Glad you all liked the pics we sent! Any questions about the area, my companion, or anything!?

I am way glad to hear that dad is doing better! Lots of people were affected by what happened it sounds like, doesn´t suprise me. How are the shots going? Pretty weird? I just remember Nicole practicing putting in an IV in me at home...severaltimes. What was i thinking!? ha, kidding!

How was Dland Ash? Love that place! Was the weather cool? Hey mom, you should tell mr, evans that you will be going into club 33, he will have a heart attack.

Tell Waddie happy bday coming up! That is exciting. has she made it onto any other shows lately? I can´t imagine you going to any shows mom! I know that you used to go to black sabbath and all that, but i would still like to see a pic.

Wow, Have fun ashley! Convention is an awesome experience, but still look out, alot of those kids have pretty low standards, even being leaders. 

The new honda sounds pretty sweet!  I have no idea what it looks like, but honda is always relieable....sorry, i am suffering with english. The beamer when i get home? Only if i pay you two. ha. We´ll see.

Good luck with the interview daniel! and with the whole Pregnancy Nicole!

Something way cooll happened this week! We went to vist Lucia, an investigator we invited to be baptized, she read what we marked in the Book of Mormon Morõni 10, 3-5 then said a prayer asking if she shoudl be baptized then opened up to 2nd nefi 31, 14 and 15....Yes, with water! haha it was so awesome! But we need to help her get married first. But good news, they have 6 kids and the two youngest, twins mateus and gabriel, 8 yrs, went to church with her sunday. woo!!

Our zone liders came over to use our cell phone last night and stayed the night, this means Elder Hunsaker came over! That was way cool, we made some pop corn, tang, and we bought some cake for us on saturday! Ha, it was a good ol arizona reuniun. 

Well i love you all and sorry that this email is so bad! I know it is, but i am really struggling to speak english right now and short on time! Next week weill be better! 

Loving helping all the people and looking forward to some baptisms soon :)

Love,

Elder Dawson

January 30, 2012

Queridinha Famiília,

I am going to start with the pics! The tall red head is Elder Arnow from mesa and with him is Elder Oliveira from Pára. The rest is one helping Rafa hoe is backyard and burn all the leftovers and there are some from the bus station in Porto Alegre. With Elder Lambrechsten and Johnson and Julio Cesar and Arauju. Arauju is still in Ipanema, ha. He is going to end the mission there this transfer with 9 months there. Then there is our District, Me, Elder De Oliveira, Sister Miller and Sister Souza and Elder Costa and De Silva. And the last is Elder De Oliveira and myself 30 minutes ago!

I am glad to hear that everyone is feeling better about Dad´s situation. I think it did as much damage to everyone thinking what it would be like without dad as it did to dad! Everything has been tranquil here. The only question is, what are those poor elders there going to do without all of the rides they get from dad! Ha! Now they know how i feel...joking :)

Wow, one case of legionaries’ disease in AZ all year?? Did you get to meet Dr. House? That would be cool. I just wish i could have been there to see dad loopy on the medicine for once. It has always been mom, daniel or me. Any pictures? voice recordings? funny stories? Mysterious cravings and new recipes, or is that just mom´s thing? ;) You sound like you had vip service over there dad, that is way cool. After all, you were on the board of arrowhead hospital for a few years. So are you just staying inside watching monk all day now? at least pick a good series...ha.

Dland for SmAsh? How cool! That is awesome! One day i am hoping they will build a dland here in porto alegre, I remember little João and Odine saying how they wanted to go so bad( little kids in Bagé, kids of Rafa from the picture). The Mo room should be cool. I don´t know if you know what happened when i went to dland with stugo mom, it involves water balloons and a launcher...that was really stupid, but hilarious. I think we gave Doug a heart attack. Be sure to take a picture of the snow Ashley! Send it here, everyone would like to see snow, they have never seen it here. It is practically a myth.

Wow! Nicole is going to pop any day now! I almost forgot! How cool! I want a pic when it happens :) Have they already decided if they are going to call him Bradley, or Joseph? Either way, i support the use of my name for their little boy. When I show pics for people, they like to see the progression of little man, the ultrasounds.

Wow, that is pretty lucky what happened to Brandon! Oh and I got your letter this week Brandon and Alyssa! Sorry it has been a while since I wrote to anyone, but life is hectic! I will get going on it. You would not believe how many letters I have to write...

Good luck on the rotation Adam! That should be way cool. Hey Dan, how is the new job? Well i guess it isn´t new anymore. And Daniel D, how is that program at Midwestern? Still going to...Guatemala? I forgot where.

So Pelotas is awesome! And excuse me, the name of our ward is Areal. We mostly work in a neighborhood called Dunas. And I am loving it! I could finish my mission here. We are preparing some people to be baptized and finding many others. This Saturday we will have 2! Danuza and Karina, they are both friends of a member, Jessica, who has recently returned to church. Danuza and Karina are both 14 years old. And Karina has already brought 2 cousins to church and we are going to start teaching one, his name is Brendon, he is 12 years old. And another friend of Danuza, Iviani is starting to go to church and talk with us, and Another friend Jessica Silveira. I love this area! ha. I am receiving all the blessings from the work in my previous area.

Samantha- Samantha is 16 years old but is more mature than anyone her age. She went to church this Sunday with us, the 4h time, and loved it. One of the speakers talked about the Book of Mormon and made a challenge to finish in 84 days, with a little map to paint. So we are all doing the challenge! Those that complete it get a special something. But Samantha´s mom is a member inactive of a lot of time. There are six kids and she is the oldest, they all start with the letter S and i am still trying to remember all of the names. But the mom would go to church but when she doesn´t have to work, she has to stay home and care for her husband. Crazy huh. But she is just worried because baptism is a big decision, she thinks that she has to be perfect after and if she sins, it is the end of the world. so we are helping her with that and will hopefully help her to be baptised this month of February.

Daniel is doing splits with us all week, i love it! He is preparing to serve a mission too in November. But he is bugging me to demand Ashley to accept his friend request on Facebook, ha. This is actually the only one I accept. Go ahead and add him on there! His name is Daniel Costa. He has some pictures of us he wants to put up.

I love you all and am so glad that everyone is feeling better! Especially you dad!!

Love, Elder Bradley J. Dawson.
 

 Eldes Dawson, Arnow and Pára

Helping Rafa hoe his backyard

 Elders Dawson, Johnson and Lambrechsten

 Elders Dawson and Arauju (Ipanema Companion)

 Elder De Oliveira, Elder Dawson, Sister Miller, Sister Souza, Elder Costa and Elder De Silva

 Elder De Oliveria

January 23, 2012

Dear Family!

So...I am in Pelotas! Ha, i said it wouldn´t happened, but i got a 6 hour bus for porto alegre just to get a 3 hour bus back down to pelotas! Interesting huh? But i am loving it here. I am in the Aerial south area, we split the ward with another 2 elders. Our area is super small, but it is great, still plenty of work. The people here say that Pelotas is the second most humid city in the world...i would believe. I get out of the shower and it is like i can´t dry off! Everyday is a wet day, ha. But to be truthful, i am not even feeling the heat! Sweating, yes, it´s really humid here, but not feeling a lot of heat. We work a lot in this area called the dunas. Love the people here and seeing many miracles. My companion is Elder De Oliveira, he goes home here in April. Our mission is full of a lot of old elders so he will make part of a big group going home then. But i am loving working with him, He is not only a great friend, animated and funny, but a really skilled missionary, I need to make the most of my time with him. He is from São Paulo- Sorocaba. He is also our District leader.

So Pelotas is famous for the heat and the sweets, pretty cool huh! But it also has a reputation in all of brasil that is pretty interesting...like san francisco for us. They say it is because of all the Europeans that got here and were all fancy. Also that lots of people sent their kids to Europe to study and they came back fancy pantsy too. So who knows! But something interesting, the accent here is completely different compared to bagé. There it was all rough. Every city has an accent different here, how crazy. The only plague here is the mosquito's....we are at war.

One of our zone leaders here, the other companionship in our ward, is Elder Hunsacker, from phoenix! We know the same people, we went to the same parties, but we can´t remember one another if our life depended on it, funny huh. He is also a friend of Abby. So that has been pretty fun. We made tacos and guacamole for lunch the other day too. We always have lunch with him and Elder Nascimento. Oh and one time i even talked to Elder Hunsacker on the phone to give directions to a party, pretty funny.

We were leaving lunch with Elder Askonnavieta, from the seventy, the other day and got a call/reference. A member in another ward, doctor, told a patient that we would pass by and we could help them. Their names are Luis Carlos and Ellis Regina, they have the cutest little daughter with about 2 years i think. But they are just not feeling safe or well at all. Or happy. They think that their family is sending some bad spirits to them....welcome to religion here. This is normal. But we taught them on Friday, they called us on Saturday and said they would go to church and showed up on Sunday! We had to go help a member with something, but when we got back to the gospel principles class, Ellis Regina was crying. I could feel the spirit a lot. They made some good friendships too. But i realized, we didn´t do anything! We got a phone call, passed by the house, and the Lord did everything. I just needed to be in the street using a name tag. Wow, i love this work.

Also, Elder De Oliveira reactivated this girl with 15 years and now she is giving us all of her friends to teach. We are teaching and going to baptize two of them here in February. Danuza and Karina are there names.

Daniel- This is actually a member, he is 17 years old and is the man. He is preparing to serve a mission, 18 years old here, and does splits with us all the time. I love the ward and everything here. I could finish my mission here!

Something funny- Elder De Oliveira was getting the numbers from the work from Sisters Souza and Miller and the went on for 10 minutes about how the saved the life of this puppy,(Elder You won´t believe what happened! We saved a life today!) Naturally we got really excited but were a little let down when i found out it was a dog. so this week we saved the life of 4 frogs doing a project service and had to rub it in. And say Sisters! You won´t believe it but we saved four lives!

Dad- I know you will be okay, The Priesthood blessing you received is the power of God with those that are worthy. I am confident that everything will be okay. Don´t worry  about calling for President Swenson, I will be remember you in my prayers and will find out next Monday.

I love you all and am so grateful for your example in my life, I am grateful for the Priesthood restored, I know it is Here, i know that it is a sign of the true church of God and Christ.

Elder Bradley J. Dawson