Jan 3, 2022: Yea sorry about last week
Sorry i didn't get around to writing an email last week, we had a pretty full day! We had some elders come up from the Andarai zone and we got to play some basketball and soccer with them out here in Caxias, which was pretty hype! It was way fun but sorry i didn't get around to writing an email. Ill try to include the highlights of last week too. I think this email will just be a ton of random stuff all over the place so Im sorry in advance kkkkkk.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Christmas and New Years were both really good! But they also did not feel anything like the holidays I know haha. It was like really hot on both of them, and without family it didnt feel normal, so that was a bit strange, but in total it was still pretty good! I love Jesus, so it was really good to just have an easy way to talk about him with everyone haha. Oh also we got the opportunity to do an activity with an irmã in the ward where we handed out 210 pass along cards in 30 minutes with a little Christmas message on all of them so that was really hype. On Christmas eve and Christmas, I got to have meals with the members for 3 of 6 meals so that was hype, Ive said it before and Ill say it again that the members here are just awesome! On New Years day we got to have an incredible lunch with some of my favorite people in the ward Irmã e Irmão Maralhas. It was just awesome! Also should note, I got to talk to my family for a little both on Christmas and New Years so that was absolutely amazing. Its always the freaking best when I can talk to everyone! The only rough part was that lots of people were occupied when we tried to contact, but I know the Lord will continue to put people in our path!
TEACHING EFFORTS!
Teaching was a bit slower this week, but we had a few highlights. The first was Carlos! He has come to church twice now, and is reading the Book of Mormon now! We have been able to teach him 2 lessons so far, and he has been able to attend some ward activities with us. Right now we are continuing to help him and we will continue to keep working with him every day! Another cool thing was we had an absolutely baller lesson over the phone with someone that was a media reference, it was so good we had to go get açai to celebrate afterward. Unfortunately she actually doesn't live in our area so well probably do a pass off lesson soon, but for now its still rolling. Along with the normal lessons we have we usually get some crazies that call us, for one random reason or another this week we've had a random person call us a few times and ask to speak to an apostle so that was really random. We ended up setting up a lesson with her, but Im pretty sure she didnt actually listen to a word of the lesson when we gave it. But you gotta go for it anyways, so its all good. Also along with normal lessons we get the opportunity to give messages every member lunch we have and those have been the absolute best. Right now were trying to focus on part member families and yesterday we had someone in a part member family accept to hear the missionary lessons again so HYPE!
RANDOM STUFF I REMEMBER CAUSE I SUCK AT KEEPING A JOURNAL
Yea so I hav been bad the last couple of weeks but Im gonna try to do better this week so thats a promise to yall, someone here can hold me accountable to that. But here we go....
We were walking home from lunch and rain was threatening so I looked up and said BRING IT ON and then sure enough it started just coming down buckets so that was funny. He listens people. Also now my companion uses that phrase for everything so thats pretty funny too.
On New Years eve I got to play risk with the ZLS so that was pretty fun.
Ive tried out a lot of random stuff on the streets now and in the members houses so a quick food overview... The rice and beans here are always freaking delish, usually with some sort of chicken so that is always really good. The salgados are just delish (as long as you get them at the right spot... ask the members for the hot spots), sorvete is reeally really good, and theres a place you can get it for 2 reals here close to our house sooooo... yea thats pretty awesome. The açai is heavenly and I never want to leave it behind. And Guarana also. We drink a lot of Coke, by far the soda of choice here. I tried some fish stuff that I don't know the name of and it was... ok... not my choice but it was good! Tereré is really good, i don't even know what it is but its good. And finally, if given the opportunity to eat, you just eat, cause other then member meals, you just don't really know when you'll eat next kkkkkk
My companion speaks pretty decent English, but its still funny to me every time I hear it.
Transfers are this week and word on the street is that the mission is going to have a ton of changes. I think me and Elder Siquera are safe for now cause we've been here only 3 weeks, but I think my district and zone will get changed a lot so well see how that goes!
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT
My spiritual thought is going to be more of a guided exercise for you guys this week so I want you to send me an email if you do it. :)
It is about the goals that President Nelson encouraged us to think about this new year. I loved these goals and I love our prophet, so I know I will make them a priority in my life!
Anyways the first goal was to strengthen our foundation through making time each day for the gospel. He talks a little here about some things that you can do to do this so If you already have something, great! If not, I have a couple places you can look, and for everyone a couple of reasons this is important. First, check out Helaman 5:12... my gospel library in english isn't loading so you're going to have to do this yourselves... :) But I love how this verse talks so much about why it is important to keep our focus and foundation on Christ, with a powerful promise that we will not fall if we do so. Second check out this video by President Nelson
I love how this video talks about our foundations, and how we can keep them strong through dedicated and repeated effort! I know the Lord will bless us if we keep at it and keep trying to build ourselves up with real intent! I encourage all of you to make a goal to do this each and ever day!
Ill talk about one more and then Ill lave you to go read the last one for yourself, but the second goal is to simply (im my mind) to simply be more nice to people. Anyone can be mean to someone, anyone can judge, make fun of, lose patience with, or be upset with someone, but it is much harder (and much better) to be kind, have charity, see people as children of god, be understanding of, or forgive someone. These are just a few examples of what I need to work on. And also a few suggestions for you guys if you need ideas :)
But I think the story of the Good Samaritan is perfect here. (Luke 10 for those who are following along). This story just shows someone who saw with the eyes of Christ, and that is something the whole world could use. So I would encourage you to see with the eyes of Christ and you will see the world a little bit happier!
But I leave that to you guys with my testimony that the church is true, and that God blesses each of us, and he has blessed us with a savior so we can return to him someday. And with that, and this last video I absolutely love (in portuguese this time. :)
I close my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ amen
Also thanks to whichever of the Philips twins found this and posted it so I could find it too. :) Didnt even know I was looking for it until I found it haha.
But you guys are the best, and sorry this email is so long! Ill try to attach some cool photos here but i dont know if itll work so if not Ill figure it out. I love you guys a billion and am thankful for your love and prayers!
Elder Bradshaw
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