Monday, July 7, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014
One Week
Dear family,
Time is running out..and I’m still unable to really put my thoughts together on how I really feel.... It’s kinda like two years ago leaving home all over again. No idea what to expect, no idea what the future holds, no idea what is up next.... It’s hard to describe, and to think when I first started my mission all I wanted to do was finish it...and then this week...the most said sentence I have said is, “I just am so so so so glad that I came. I can’t imagine where I would be if I hadn’t.” Coming to Ghana has been the best decision that I have ever made. There is nothing in this world that should stop people from choosing to serve a mission.
(So...some background for this next paragraph.) Someone visiting our ward last Sunday brought a guest with them. It turns out that he serves in the Ghana Accra mission presidency and was here for some training. He knew Taylor and told me that he would be at the Mission office next Tuesday to tell Taylor goodbye. I so badly wanted to hand him something that was obviously from our house for him to give to Taylor as he was leaving to shock Taylor...but I couldn’t get him anything fast enough. Good thought though! So, I just sent Taylor this photo this morning.)
Yeah...so Mom, that picture was crazy! I can’t believe that you met him! What are the chances? I see him like every week, he lives down the road from us. Anyway that’s really funny because that week we were in quite the predicament because of him. Some things require an interview by the mission presidency before they can be baptized, so he was scheduled to do one for the sisters on Wednesday.....then we get a call from a 801 number.....”yeah I’m in America”....kinda funny...but I realized then that he was in Utah. He is a cool guy:).
QUESTIONS....
What are your plans for this week?
-well we didn’t get to go to the ‘art market’ last week because we had some people to go and visit, so we are going this week. Other than that lots of finding, maybe some packing. I don't know...try and make it as normal of a week as I can.
What happens when you go home? Do you go to the office for a night?
-well I have an interview with President Heid, we go to the temple, have a going home dinner/testimony meeting, then to the air port. No over night unless you are in a far area, which I’m not.
How is the new President?
-never met him...I will just meet him for that interview and then tell him good bye.
How was it having President Judd leave?
-strange.... President Heid got in on Saturday afternoon, so President Judd was no longer the president. Sunday Pres. Judd came to our ward for sacrament meeting. That was cool and really pretty strange though. Just a different feeling talking with him. We keep telling ourselves that he liked us the best...so thats why he came to our ward ;)
Did you have a good time at the art market?
-didn’t go last week...going this week though.
Will you get a p-day next week?
-yeah, it will be the day before I go. No real plans yet, hopefully something kinda fun though. Met this guy that is super in to biking and wants me to come with him. But where he wants to go is kinda far, so I don't think we can make it.
Planning a dinner for you when you get home...any suggestions? Zack told me that there better not be one piece of rice in the house when he gets home, so we will not be having rice.
-yeah no rice, anything else sounds fine. I want a chocolate chip cookie though. A soft one.
Is there food that you would like to have when you get here? Anything you are craving?
- I have no idea. Maybe you should just give me some money and the car keys and I’ll go shopping for food :)
How were you able to serve someone this week?
-well I fixed someones chairs... They had a couple of rusty stools that they had found over the weeks so that was kinda fun. They didn't think I could do it... totally proved them wrong.
Spiritual moments this week:
-kinda reflecting on my mission during study time. Again I’m drawn to Ammon, and I think the way he closes his first mission is about as closely as I can relate about how I currently feel.....”Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land (you can say that again); yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.
Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.
Funny stuff:
-I attached a picture that may make you laugh...I hope it’s ok...I don't know...
Well, I love you all so much. It’s strange to be done. It’s crazy and weird, but also pretty darn awesome! I don’t really have the option of staying in Ghana and continuing to serve, but I do really look forward to returning to my home and striving to be a blessing to my family and to others by continuing to do all that I can to “bring the souls of men unto [Christ]” (3 Nephi 28:10).
I don’t want to return home and “rest.” Rest is lame, rest is always for latter and I am excited to see whats next.
Love you all so much,
Elder Bradshaw
Soon to be Taylor:)
Time is running out..and I’m still unable to really put my thoughts together on how I really feel.... It’s kinda like two years ago leaving home all over again. No idea what to expect, no idea what the future holds, no idea what is up next.... It’s hard to describe, and to think when I first started my mission all I wanted to do was finish it...and then this week...the most said sentence I have said is, “I just am so so so so glad that I came. I can’t imagine where I would be if I hadn’t.” Coming to Ghana has been the best decision that I have ever made. There is nothing in this world that should stop people from choosing to serve a mission.
(So...some background for this next paragraph.) Someone visiting our ward last Sunday brought a guest with them. It turns out that he serves in the Ghana Accra mission presidency and was here for some training. He knew Taylor and told me that he would be at the Mission office next Tuesday to tell Taylor goodbye. I so badly wanted to hand him something that was obviously from our house for him to give to Taylor as he was leaving to shock Taylor...but I couldn’t get him anything fast enough. Good thought though! So, I just sent Taylor this photo this morning.)
 |
| Mom with Brother Labinjo in Alpine!! |
QUESTIONS....
What are your plans for this week?
-well we didn’t get to go to the ‘art market’ last week because we had some people to go and visit, so we are going this week. Other than that lots of finding, maybe some packing. I don't know...try and make it as normal of a week as I can.
What happens when you go home? Do you go to the office for a night?
-well I have an interview with President Heid, we go to the temple, have a going home dinner/testimony meeting, then to the air port. No over night unless you are in a far area, which I’m not.
How is the new President?
-never met him...I will just meet him for that interview and then tell him good bye.
How was it having President Judd leave?
-strange.... President Heid got in on Saturday afternoon, so President Judd was no longer the president. Sunday Pres. Judd came to our ward for sacrament meeting. That was cool and really pretty strange though. Just a different feeling talking with him. We keep telling ourselves that he liked us the best...so thats why he came to our ward ;)
Did you have a good time at the art market?
-didn’t go last week...going this week though.
Will you get a p-day next week?
-yeah, it will be the day before I go. No real plans yet, hopefully something kinda fun though. Met this guy that is super in to biking and wants me to come with him. But where he wants to go is kinda far, so I don't think we can make it.
 |
| Taylor with Elder Clarke |
-yeah no rice, anything else sounds fine. I want a chocolate chip cookie though. A soft one.
Is there food that you would like to have when you get here? Anything you are craving?
- I have no idea. Maybe you should just give me some money and the car keys and I’ll go shopping for food :)
How were you able to serve someone this week?
-well I fixed someones chairs... They had a couple of rusty stools that they had found over the weeks so that was kinda fun. They didn't think I could do it... totally proved them wrong.
Spiritual moments this week:
-kinda reflecting on my mission during study time. Again I’m drawn to Ammon, and I think the way he closes his first mission is about as closely as I can relate about how I currently feel.....”Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land (you can say that again); yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.
Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.
Funny stuff:
-I attached a picture that may make you laugh...I hope it’s ok...I don't know...
Well, I love you all so much. It’s strange to be done. It’s crazy and weird, but also pretty darn awesome! I don’t really have the option of staying in Ghana and continuing to serve, but I do really look forward to returning to my home and striving to be a blessing to my family and to others by continuing to do all that I can to “bring the souls of men unto [Christ]” (3 Nephi 28:10).
I don’t want to return home and “rest.” Rest is lame, rest is always for latter and I am excited to see whats next.
Love you all so much,
Elder Bradshaw
Soon to be Taylor:)
Monday, June 16, 2014
Another week in Ghana
Dear Family,
It seems as if we are kind of in a pattern now...one week of things to write and then the next week nothing....Sorry that we are on the off week this week. Time seems to be blending together, and just flying by, and I don’t even know what to write about! I still can’t believe that its coming to an end. I feel like just last week I was sitting in the car sick from my doxy (Doxy is the malaria medicine he had to take before he left.) with no food on the way to the Salt Lake City airport...now three weeks from Wednesday I’ll be in the car on my way back from the Salt Lake airport...crazy!
Yeah...I’m really not feeling the writing today...so you will have to forgive me.
Anyway, things are going well. Kinda starting to slow down but it still going well. I was sick a day this week, throwing up and all that good stuff. Ghana couldn’t let me get out of here without one more go of it...ha ha. But I’m good now, things are good, kinda been hard to realize I am going to be leaving all these awesome people here in this area. I guess it happens every time you get transferred. You just start to worry a bit about whether or not these people that you have come to love so much will be ok. It will be a bit scary to leave, because so many are so close...but I guess if the Lord wants these people in his church then...no matter what they will get there. It really isn’t us that do anything, so it doesn’t matter who is here, as long as they try their best, God can use whoever is here to do his work. Like lets get real...He has used me for good. If He can use me, then who can’t He use?! That’s one thing I have really learned so much about since being here, really about my own nothingness. We are nothing without the Lord. He is our everything and nothing is done here without Him.
Guess I’ll hit your questions....
How are things with K?
-still going well, kinda slow moving since we can only see him once a week. Since out dinner lesson he really has had a lot more interest. He can see us as who we really are, and now has a desire for himself to be as we are. I think before he was like, “this church is crazy, I don’t want to be like that”, but now he can really see how the church and its members are.
Things with J./A.?
- James was out of town this week with some family meeting. But, we talked with his cousin this week and he told us that he had spent a lot of time talking with J. after church last week and his words were, “he is finally coming home, he will definitely be baptized!” So that was comforting! We had a lesson with him earlier in the week though before he traveled, and we were able to get his wife involved in the lesson as well. She is a bit more dedicated to their current church than J. is, but just judging how close their family is...I think there is no question that when J. comes, the wife and remainder of the family will soon follow.
You mentioned some new families last week...any thing great with them?
-nope, lots of finding this week....
World Cup stuff? What is the feeling like there? Do you have mission rules?
-There is just more energy in the air, nothing heated at all. Everyone watches every single match which is a downer for teaching, but nothing violent at all. Ghana is like the worlds most peaceful country ever! I don’t think there is anything that could get them fired up enough to actually do something, we’ll besides theft....The Ghana vs. US game doesn’t start until 10 so we will be long inside. No rules though, nothing to be worried about.
What’s going on with campus?
-not much, it’s kinda dead. It’s summer vacation so there isn’t much going on.
How have you seen the hand of the Lord in your work this week?
-he is still making me feel like I have a lot of time left in my mission so that I don't just die:). I still feel like I am never coming home.
Getting good food?
-sometimes. Lately I have started to eat more of the local food...the few things I actually enjoy at least. Trying to get my last few tastes of Ghana food before its gone forever.
You seemed excited about your haircut last week...was it everything you wanted it to be?
-half and half, ha ha, he used scissors, but kinda messed it up. Its pretty uneven, but it’s not horrible.
Well I love you all so so much. you are one awesome family!
Dad your an awesome Dad, happy late Father’s Day, we’ll do something for it in a few weeks, maybe some more fishing?
Hope you all have an awesome week. Be safe, love you all...
Taylor
It seems as if we are kind of in a pattern now...one week of things to write and then the next week nothing....Sorry that we are on the off week this week. Time seems to be blending together, and just flying by, and I don’t even know what to write about! I still can’t believe that its coming to an end. I feel like just last week I was sitting in the car sick from my doxy (Doxy is the malaria medicine he had to take before he left.) with no food on the way to the Salt Lake City airport...now three weeks from Wednesday I’ll be in the car on my way back from the Salt Lake airport...crazy!
Yeah...I’m really not feeling the writing today...so you will have to forgive me.
Anyway, things are going well. Kinda starting to slow down but it still going well. I was sick a day this week, throwing up and all that good stuff. Ghana couldn’t let me get out of here without one more go of it...ha ha. But I’m good now, things are good, kinda been hard to realize I am going to be leaving all these awesome people here in this area. I guess it happens every time you get transferred. You just start to worry a bit about whether or not these people that you have come to love so much will be ok. It will be a bit scary to leave, because so many are so close...but I guess if the Lord wants these people in his church then...no matter what they will get there. It really isn’t us that do anything, so it doesn’t matter who is here, as long as they try their best, God can use whoever is here to do his work. Like lets get real...He has used me for good. If He can use me, then who can’t He use?! That’s one thing I have really learned so much about since being here, really about my own nothingness. We are nothing without the Lord. He is our everything and nothing is done here without Him.
Guess I’ll hit your questions....
How are things with K?
-still going well, kinda slow moving since we can only see him once a week. Since out dinner lesson he really has had a lot more interest. He can see us as who we really are, and now has a desire for himself to be as we are. I think before he was like, “this church is crazy, I don’t want to be like that”, but now he can really see how the church and its members are.
Things with J./A.?
- James was out of town this week with some family meeting. But, we talked with his cousin this week and he told us that he had spent a lot of time talking with J. after church last week and his words were, “he is finally coming home, he will definitely be baptized!” So that was comforting! We had a lesson with him earlier in the week though before he traveled, and we were able to get his wife involved in the lesson as well. She is a bit more dedicated to their current church than J. is, but just judging how close their family is...I think there is no question that when J. comes, the wife and remainder of the family will soon follow.
You mentioned some new families last week...any thing great with them?
-nope, lots of finding this week....
World Cup stuff? What is the feeling like there? Do you have mission rules?
-There is just more energy in the air, nothing heated at all. Everyone watches every single match which is a downer for teaching, but nothing violent at all. Ghana is like the worlds most peaceful country ever! I don’t think there is anything that could get them fired up enough to actually do something, we’ll besides theft....The Ghana vs. US game doesn’t start until 10 so we will be long inside. No rules though, nothing to be worried about.
What’s going on with campus?
-not much, it’s kinda dead. It’s summer vacation so there isn’t much going on.
How have you seen the hand of the Lord in your work this week?
-he is still making me feel like I have a lot of time left in my mission so that I don't just die:). I still feel like I am never coming home.
Getting good food?
-sometimes. Lately I have started to eat more of the local food...the few things I actually enjoy at least. Trying to get my last few tastes of Ghana food before its gone forever.
You seemed excited about your haircut last week...was it everything you wanted it to be?
-half and half, ha ha, he used scissors, but kinda messed it up. Its pretty uneven, but it’s not horrible.
Well I love you all so so much. you are one awesome family!
Dad your an awesome Dad, happy late Father’s Day, we’ll do something for it in a few weeks, maybe some more fishing?
Hope you all have an awesome week. Be safe, love you all...
Taylor
Monday, June 9, 2014
One More Month
Dear family,
Things this week are going pretty darn good, found some cool people, got them to church, healthy, so what is there to complain about?
Well it rained a lot, that was kind of annoying...
Lake Powell sounds like a ton of fun though!
Guess I’ll just get into the questions...
In what ways have you seen the Hand of the Lord in your work this week?
-kinda had two things this week.
First one was with Kay, that investigator that I told you about over the phone. He and I are super similar in our personalities, but the tie and tag were speaking a bit too loud for him to see that I was a normal guy like he was. Yes, I love God enough to leave everything and live in a crazy country for two years, but I still am not too crazy and I am a lot like him.... Anyway I was praying that he would be able to see how I was when I wasn't a missionary. I wanted him to see that I am a religious guy, trying to do what is right, but that I am also “normal”. I don’t know if you understand what I’m saying here... Nothing really was coming to me, and I was concerned. But then we had an appointment with him scheduled for Saturday night, and he called and asked if we wanted to go get pizza with him for our lesson that night? Of course...we said yes! We went with him and with one of his best friends who was visiting from Canada and got some pizza at a restaurant in our area. It was awesome! We talked a lot about the gospel with him, but at the same time he was definitely able to see my true personality, it was sweet! Super fun dinner, and a definite answer to my prayers.
-Second, had someone use a passage of scripture from the Bible that I wasn’t familiar with to shut me down this week... I was super lost. I had no idea what to say at all! I was totally stumped, just sat there for a second while my companion tried to talk about something. I just continued to look down at the page again and it was almost as if there was a new word in the passage that was bolder than the rest, jumping off the page to me...and it literally just clicked. I felt like I knew everything that I needed to know about that passage of scripture to finish this conversation. I found that I was able to teach this man for about ten minutes about this scripture that 30 seconds before, I had no idea about. It was pretty sweet!
What is one way that you feel like you have changed while on your mission?
-I love God more than anything and I am giving my life to him.
Fun things for Pday this week?
-hair cut. I finally found a place here that uses scissors and can cut a ‘white man’s’ hair. They just usually have clippers with no change in length so they just try to wing it...and then your hair cut looks like some just winged-it with some clippers. I’m actually pretty excited about this. Silly.
How are you helping your companion this week? How is he helping you?
-I have really tried to turn as much over to him that I can. I have figured the more I can get him to do in the area now... the more that I will be able to leave in peace knowing that he knows what he is doing with these people that I love so much! And...he is helping me to ‘keep going’ even though my time is short.
Something that you are learning.
-I did some study this week on ‘the immediate consequences of sin’ and I promise I now have a greater understanding of why sin is such a big deal. I found so much that I didn’t comprehend before. I have also been studying about “viewing His death” from Jacob 1:8. From what I have been able to take from it is that I need to view the full spectrum of what His death made possible. I never before realized the depth of the meaning of Christ’s death and all that it empowers us to be able to do. Recently, the spirit has been with me more than I think I have ever before experienced, in guidance, in answers, everything. And when this week I didn’t have it as much as I did last week... I really was able to better understand how much the spirit dwelling in us always (made possible by his death) really affects literally all aspects of our daily living. I know sin, trials, afflictions, times of loneliness, etc are never desirable but I have learned so much from my falls, trials and troubles and I know that God really can, when we let him, consecrate our afflictions for our gain.
Some advice for us at home?
-Read your Book of Mormon every single day...not new advice...but just do it.
What are you excited about in your mission right now?
-right now I am super excited about a guy named James and his son Abraham.....This week we had one of the sweetest experiences I think of my entire mission. We are currently teaching a man right now named James. We contacted him some weeks back as were were doing some finding. I think I have mentioned him before. Turns out that when he came to church for the first time, he found that his long lost cousin/brother was a member and in the other ward that meets in our same building. They grew up together as best friends but have not been in contact with each other for man years. They didn’t even know where one another were. Anyway, this week we had an incredibly spiritual lesson with both James and his son. We were able to extend to them baptismal dates for the 6th of July, which just happens to be my last Sunday in Ghana and my Birthday so that would be pretty sweet.
Anyway...Sunday rolled around, and we saw James brother from the other ward. He came over to greet us and say hello. We told him of our lesson that week and he threw his arms around me and just started crying. It was so unexpected, but so sweet. He just kept saying, “thank you, thank you, I have waited for this day for so long”, it was so awesome to be a part of that. I know that it wasn’t anything we said in that lesson that touched the heart of our dear brother James, it wasn’t us that decided to continue finding on a street that for a whole week had not yielded any success, only to find him on our last hour proselyting on a Saturday evening, nothing we do is through our own strength, but it is such a blessing to be a part of it all.
I sat pondering over the time that’s left here in Africa last night and it about killed me, it hurt so much to just see how useless I was back home. I did a lot, but not for really anyone but myself. I was never to concerned with helping others around me. I wasn’t a bad kid, I did good things most of the time, but I really didn’t ever do really great things. Everyday that passes, I am reminded of how many more I don’t have as an official representative of the church and more especially the Lord Jesus Christ, how those feeling of overwhelming happiness realizing that you have been a tool that the Lord has been able to use for his purposes and I already miss it. Something president said in our last zone conference really hit me, he said, “from the time I was first set apart to be a missionary, I never really stopped” So, I am making that my goal, never stop being a missionary, never stop serving the Lord and his church. Whatever I am called to do, I will do. Whatever I am blessed with to sacrifice...its already His. Whatever it takes...I am ready to do it. Whether as a full time missionary, or as a nursery leader...I will do all that I can to help the Lords kingdom to grow. This week I was filled with so much desire to have my life never be what it was...to never stop the good that the Lord has been able to use me for over the last two years, I want to continue to be a blessing unto others. I want more than just to be happy, I want others to be happy as well. I know it will be difficult and not always fun, but it’s all I want.
Well I love you all so much.
See you all so so soon.
Well...except Zack... but really...I’ll even see him relatively soon :).
Well have a great week!
Love you all so much,
Elder Bradshaw
Things this week are going pretty darn good, found some cool people, got them to church, healthy, so what is there to complain about?
Well it rained a lot, that was kind of annoying...
Lake Powell sounds like a ton of fun though!
Guess I’ll just get into the questions...
In what ways have you seen the Hand of the Lord in your work this week?
-kinda had two things this week.
First one was with Kay, that investigator that I told you about over the phone. He and I are super similar in our personalities, but the tie and tag were speaking a bit too loud for him to see that I was a normal guy like he was. Yes, I love God enough to leave everything and live in a crazy country for two years, but I still am not too crazy and I am a lot like him.... Anyway I was praying that he would be able to see how I was when I wasn't a missionary. I wanted him to see that I am a religious guy, trying to do what is right, but that I am also “normal”. I don’t know if you understand what I’m saying here... Nothing really was coming to me, and I was concerned. But then we had an appointment with him scheduled for Saturday night, and he called and asked if we wanted to go get pizza with him for our lesson that night? Of course...we said yes! We went with him and with one of his best friends who was visiting from Canada and got some pizza at a restaurant in our area. It was awesome! We talked a lot about the gospel with him, but at the same time he was definitely able to see my true personality, it was sweet! Super fun dinner, and a definite answer to my prayers.
-Second, had someone use a passage of scripture from the Bible that I wasn’t familiar with to shut me down this week... I was super lost. I had no idea what to say at all! I was totally stumped, just sat there for a second while my companion tried to talk about something. I just continued to look down at the page again and it was almost as if there was a new word in the passage that was bolder than the rest, jumping off the page to me...and it literally just clicked. I felt like I knew everything that I needed to know about that passage of scripture to finish this conversation. I found that I was able to teach this man for about ten minutes about this scripture that 30 seconds before, I had no idea about. It was pretty sweet!
What is one way that you feel like you have changed while on your mission?
-I love God more than anything and I am giving my life to him.
Fun things for Pday this week?
-hair cut. I finally found a place here that uses scissors and can cut a ‘white man’s’ hair. They just usually have clippers with no change in length so they just try to wing it...and then your hair cut looks like some just winged-it with some clippers. I’m actually pretty excited about this. Silly.
How are you helping your companion this week? How is he helping you?
-I have really tried to turn as much over to him that I can. I have figured the more I can get him to do in the area now... the more that I will be able to leave in peace knowing that he knows what he is doing with these people that I love so much! And...he is helping me to ‘keep going’ even though my time is short.
Something that you are learning.
-I did some study this week on ‘the immediate consequences of sin’ and I promise I now have a greater understanding of why sin is such a big deal. I found so much that I didn’t comprehend before. I have also been studying about “viewing His death” from Jacob 1:8. From what I have been able to take from it is that I need to view the full spectrum of what His death made possible. I never before realized the depth of the meaning of Christ’s death and all that it empowers us to be able to do. Recently, the spirit has been with me more than I think I have ever before experienced, in guidance, in answers, everything. And when this week I didn’t have it as much as I did last week... I really was able to better understand how much the spirit dwelling in us always (made possible by his death) really affects literally all aspects of our daily living. I know sin, trials, afflictions, times of loneliness, etc are never desirable but I have learned so much from my falls, trials and troubles and I know that God really can, when we let him, consecrate our afflictions for our gain.
Some advice for us at home?
-Read your Book of Mormon every single day...not new advice...but just do it.
What are you excited about in your mission right now?
-right now I am super excited about a guy named James and his son Abraham.....This week we had one of the sweetest experiences I think of my entire mission. We are currently teaching a man right now named James. We contacted him some weeks back as were were doing some finding. I think I have mentioned him before. Turns out that when he came to church for the first time, he found that his long lost cousin/brother was a member and in the other ward that meets in our same building. They grew up together as best friends but have not been in contact with each other for man years. They didn’t even know where one another were. Anyway, this week we had an incredibly spiritual lesson with both James and his son. We were able to extend to them baptismal dates for the 6th of July, which just happens to be my last Sunday in Ghana and my Birthday so that would be pretty sweet.
Anyway...Sunday rolled around, and we saw James brother from the other ward. He came over to greet us and say hello. We told him of our lesson that week and he threw his arms around me and just started crying. It was so unexpected, but so sweet. He just kept saying, “thank you, thank you, I have waited for this day for so long”, it was so awesome to be a part of that. I know that it wasn’t anything we said in that lesson that touched the heart of our dear brother James, it wasn’t us that decided to continue finding on a street that for a whole week had not yielded any success, only to find him on our last hour proselyting on a Saturday evening, nothing we do is through our own strength, but it is such a blessing to be a part of it all.
I sat pondering over the time that’s left here in Africa last night and it about killed me, it hurt so much to just see how useless I was back home. I did a lot, but not for really anyone but myself. I was never to concerned with helping others around me. I wasn’t a bad kid, I did good things most of the time, but I really didn’t ever do really great things. Everyday that passes, I am reminded of how many more I don’t have as an official representative of the church and more especially the Lord Jesus Christ, how those feeling of overwhelming happiness realizing that you have been a tool that the Lord has been able to use for his purposes and I already miss it. Something president said in our last zone conference really hit me, he said, “from the time I was first set apart to be a missionary, I never really stopped” So, I am making that my goal, never stop being a missionary, never stop serving the Lord and his church. Whatever I am called to do, I will do. Whatever I am blessed with to sacrifice...its already His. Whatever it takes...I am ready to do it. Whether as a full time missionary, or as a nursery leader...I will do all that I can to help the Lords kingdom to grow. This week I was filled with so much desire to have my life never be what it was...to never stop the good that the Lord has been able to use me for over the last two years, I want to continue to be a blessing unto others. I want more than just to be happy, I want others to be happy as well. I know it will be difficult and not always fun, but it’s all I want.
Well I love you all so much.
See you all so so soon.
Well...except Zack... but really...I’ll even see him relatively soon :).
Well have a great week!
Love you all so much,
Elder Bradshaw
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
One of those weeks that just 'Come and Go'
Dear family,
Not quite sure what to say this week..... It was one of those weeks that kinda just come and go...
Its
crazy how some weeks you seem to have so much to say then the very next
week it feels as if nothing has happened at all. Honestly I have no
idea what to say.....so sorry thing is so lame.
Really nothing too interesting happened this week.
My companion was sick so we were in the house quite a bit this week
which absolute kills me! It actually got me in a really really bad mood
this week, It took me lower than I have been in a while. It was tough,
but it was great to see that my foundation is beginning to change. One
of my favorite things that I have learned on my mission is about our
spiritual foundations..... Helaman 5:12
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is
upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye
must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his
mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail
and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over
you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of
the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a
foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
I didn't understand the scripture all that
much, or I guess it didn't really mean all that much to me until I found
a way to find out my spiritual foundation..... When we really look at
it we are all built upon a foundation, some it may be family, others
food, money, sports, music whatever it is, we are all built on
something, that something above all else is what brings us comfort and
solace in our times of need. President Judd once told me, "we can find
out our spiritual foundations by when we are having a hard day, where we
turn for peace."
Over the last months and even getting to years now I have learned a lot of counterfeit foundations that I formerly been built on, things that took that precious spot of Christ in my life where I would turn on a hard day. In my opinion one of the biggest reasons that we are asked to come on missions is to first learn our counterfeit foundations and then most importantly, learn to remove those foundations and replace them with the sure and flawless foundation of Christ. I am where I am, doing what I am, to first learn how to rely on God and then to help others to do the same.
There is nothing in life, no matter how good it is that can or ought to replace the foundation of Christ that we all so desperately need, not our families, even thought they are awesome, not our friends, not anything. It took me a long time to figure out, and I am still not all that good with it, but Christ is the only thing that can fill that position at all times and in all things. Friends change, money is lost or taken, family is on the other half of the world, food is turned into a gelatinous blob and named fu-fu, eventually there is nothing left but Christ.....but I know with all my heart that he is always there, and that he always will be there. He helps in all aspects of everything we pass through, no matter the size. This week I can't tell you why I was in a downer mood, I just was. Nothing seemed to cheer me up.... No matter what I did, I still seemed under the weather. The only that was there for me to turn to was my knees and my scriptures, as I did though...He built me up, He lifted me, He strengthened me, and He helped me to be happy. I love my Heavenly Father. I know he is there, and everyday he gives and does all that he can to help me to make him more of what I am built upon.
Over the last months and even getting to years now I have learned a lot of counterfeit foundations that I formerly been built on, things that took that precious spot of Christ in my life where I would turn on a hard day. In my opinion one of the biggest reasons that we are asked to come on missions is to first learn our counterfeit foundations and then most importantly, learn to remove those foundations and replace them with the sure and flawless foundation of Christ. I am where I am, doing what I am, to first learn how to rely on God and then to help others to do the same.
There is nothing in life, no matter how good it is that can or ought to replace the foundation of Christ that we all so desperately need, not our families, even thought they are awesome, not our friends, not anything. It took me a long time to figure out, and I am still not all that good with it, but Christ is the only thing that can fill that position at all times and in all things. Friends change, money is lost or taken, family is on the other half of the world, food is turned into a gelatinous blob and named fu-fu, eventually there is nothing left but Christ.....but I know with all my heart that he is always there, and that he always will be there. He helps in all aspects of everything we pass through, no matter the size. This week I can't tell you why I was in a downer mood, I just was. Nothing seemed to cheer me up.... No matter what I did, I still seemed under the weather. The only that was there for me to turn to was my knees and my scriptures, as I did though...He built me up, He lifted me, He strengthened me, and He helped me to be happy. I love my Heavenly Father. I know he is there, and everyday he gives and does all that he can to help me to make him more of what I am built upon.
Transfers: nothing really happened, still in Haatso, five more weeks to go....
I think the funniest part of my week was getting his symptoms for his "sickness",
and I quote...
Me: man how you feelin?
Elder: you know in Terminator when he punches that guy so hard in the chest that his heart stops
Me: "well no",
Elder: huhhhh, well he did, and it feels like he did the same to me only he missed my heart so it didn't kill me Me: okay, anything else?
Elder: yeah it feels like either a small snake slid down my throat and bit it or that someone slid a sword down there and cut the whole thing open
me: Okay no problem, I'll report it then.
Man I about died! That was the best way ever to call and describe how your companion is feeling sick ha ha.
I think the funniest part of my week was getting his symptoms for his "sickness",
and I quote...
Me: man how you feelin?
Elder: you know in Terminator when he punches that guy so hard in the chest that his heart stops
Me: "well no",
Elder: huhhhh, well he did, and it feels like he did the same to me only he missed my heart so it didn't kill me Me: okay, anything else?
Elder: yeah it feels like either a small snake slid down my throat and bit it or that someone slid a sword down there and cut the whole thing open
me: Okay no problem, I'll report it then.
Man I about died! That was the best way ever to call and describe how your companion is feeling sick ha ha.
Well things are going well, next week should be a little more interesting of an email.
Love you all so so much, you're one awesome family!
Love you all so so much, you're one awesome family!
Love you all,
Elder Bradshaw
Monday, May 26, 2014
Last Transfer...
Dear Family,
This week seems to have never happened! Time is flying by faster than I can even believe. This is transfer week, I don’t think much will happen considering my ‘guaranteed transfer’ next time, so I think I’ll stay put. I think Elder Clarke will stay, he is making a lot of progress, so I think the Lord will leave him here for another lap around the park.
The area is going okay. Highlight of the week was Kay came to church on Sunday, and loved it! Sacrament meeting was an absolute flop, I can’t even lie to you about that one...but I sat there praying the entire time that he could feel something...and I think he did. I prayed, “God, I know this church is true, I know these people are trying, and I am so sorry, but they just aren’t cutting it this time...please, please just give him a little bit of something like I feel when I am here.” I don’t think it came in Sacrament meeting, but he seemed to love the other two hours! I had to step out and do some interviews so I wasn’t there, but Elder Clarke says it was great! Seems to have gotten him hooked, and he said he will be there next week...so hopefully! I really clicked with this guy, and I really want him to be baptized. Its my goal...before I go home, he would be one really really good one.
Things in the area are going pretty well though, not incredible, but good. We have a lot of people coming to church but they seem to be new people each week. We are struggling to get people back for round two. Got some cool people though.
Toward the beginning of this week I was getting a bit discouraged, Elder Clarke and I have contacted more over the last six weeks than I think I have in the whole first year of my mission. We continually contact and nothing just seems to be happening. I felt almost like we were making no difference and that we were not really accomplishing our purpose as missionaries. Just as I was hitting the peak of my pity party...we had quite and incredible experience with one of our investigators.
She is a Nigerian student from the University of Wisconsin. We have been teaching her for a few weeks now and its just been incredible to see the progress that she has already made in changing her life to what she needs to be. The other night when we went to visit her we sat down and as we did I had a distinct impression to teach her the ‘Law of Chastity’. My first thought was, “no way”, it just didn’t seem, to me, the right time, nevertheless we proceeded to teach her the law of chastity. We had a great lesson...nothing very notable...just a normal lesson. A few days later we came back for our next visit. As soon as we sat down, she was already freaking out, she was so excited, you could see a change in her that was incredible. We sat down and she proceeded to tell us how the past week the university had called her and said that they had upped the cost of tuition after she had already graduated, by the way. They told her that if she didn’t pay it soon...they wouldn’t let her graduate..... To make a long story short she told us that her and her friends had, in a last ditch effort, decided to do something horrible to make money, something that if she did she would never be able to forgive herself for. The told us that the night when we had come and taught her the Law of Chastity, was the first night that she had decided to go out. When we were there...we told her that after she had promised to live this new law that Satan would try and do all that he could to get her to go against what she had just promised to do. Even that he would try in ways that he had never before tried.
She told us that that night she went into her room and told her roommates about what we had said, one of them tried to throw the book away. Another disagreed. But she told them, “the missionaries told me this would happen, God has asked me to do this, and if he has asked me to do it, then he will make a way. You do what you want...but I will leave mine to God.” She said instead of going out that night she stayed in her room all night and read the books we had given her and prayed that God would help her to find another way. The next day she organized, not a riot, but a ‘stand up’ to the university. Which, after just one day, they brought the cost back down and she wasn’t required to pay any more! It was amazing!
I left the lesson that day with just so much amazement that God could bring two little white guys from California and Utah half way around the world...put them right in the right place at the right time...and then inspire them to teach exactly what someone needed to hear in order to continue on their path to Christ. I know that I am nothing, but I also know that with God and I can do so much. I know the spirit gives us what we need. I know that if we are trying our best...no matter what...we are always being used, no matter how much we can’t see it, to do the things that God needs us to do at that time! God lives! He is there! He cares so much about each and every one of us. I know perfectly well that as I turn myself to God, as our investigator did, God has already prepared me a way to overcome my own temptations and hardships.
Yeah...Chief Booty is doing good, he is in Nigeria on business right now, but he called us the other day and told us, “I’ll make it up to you when I get back”, so that should be interesting. ha ha.
Lexi you are crazy! That is too many performances! I can’t believe how good my two sisters are getting at dance. I am actually pretty excited to come and watch when I get home!
QUESTIONS:
How was golfing?
-Didn’t go. Went and played rugby with the other zone leaders from the zone next to ours. Later the sisters came and we all made lunch together. I am so sore right now...I don’t know if I can even walk out of here. I did pretty good with Rugby...even though I’m the old man around here now.
Healthy this week?
-doing great!
Great things about your week?
-the experience in the story above was pretty cool.
Also, the my last transfer is starting.....I’m next!
Healthy. I can eat rice again, I was so sick of it so I detoxed for a while...and now it's good again.
Spiritual things?
-had some really good studies this week, some that I just really enjoyed. I finished the Book of Mormon a few weeks ago so now I am kinda just going trough doing some random studies.
Things you learned.
-I learned truly how God can consecrate our afflictions, our mistakes and our infirmities for our gain, if we let him of course. That was a bit of my study this week, dealing with Ammon in particular. I think he and I were kinda similar. In our bad days, we both liked money, we were not as excited about church stuff, we were really good with words...especially when using them to get what we wanted in a (somewhat) conniving way, we were the sons of some pretty awesome parents, who we caused a lot of pain at first to...then we changed, loved missionary work, used our tongues for righteous works, became poor servants...{and personally I think the people in Ishmael lived in round houses, around dark skinned people, had some hard times, but turned out alright:). }
Well I'm not really sure what else to really say..... Things are good, I am working hard, I’m healthy, I’m happy, I’m getting along with my companion, getting ready to get home, not overly but yeah, I think thats really about it.
Well I love you all so much, thanks for being awesome. Sorry I was like the lame Ammon for a while...hopefully I will be more like the cool Ammon when I come home.
Love you all,
Elder Bradshaw
This week seems to have never happened! Time is flying by faster than I can even believe. This is transfer week, I don’t think much will happen considering my ‘guaranteed transfer’ next time, so I think I’ll stay put. I think Elder Clarke will stay, he is making a lot of progress, so I think the Lord will leave him here for another lap around the park.
The area is going okay. Highlight of the week was Kay came to church on Sunday, and loved it! Sacrament meeting was an absolute flop, I can’t even lie to you about that one...but I sat there praying the entire time that he could feel something...and I think he did. I prayed, “God, I know this church is true, I know these people are trying, and I am so sorry, but they just aren’t cutting it this time...please, please just give him a little bit of something like I feel when I am here.” I don’t think it came in Sacrament meeting, but he seemed to love the other two hours! I had to step out and do some interviews so I wasn’t there, but Elder Clarke says it was great! Seems to have gotten him hooked, and he said he will be there next week...so hopefully! I really clicked with this guy, and I really want him to be baptized. Its my goal...before I go home, he would be one really really good one.
Things in the area are going pretty well though, not incredible, but good. We have a lot of people coming to church but they seem to be new people each week. We are struggling to get people back for round two. Got some cool people though.
Toward the beginning of this week I was getting a bit discouraged, Elder Clarke and I have contacted more over the last six weeks than I think I have in the whole first year of my mission. We continually contact and nothing just seems to be happening. I felt almost like we were making no difference and that we were not really accomplishing our purpose as missionaries. Just as I was hitting the peak of my pity party...we had quite and incredible experience with one of our investigators.
She is a Nigerian student from the University of Wisconsin. We have been teaching her for a few weeks now and its just been incredible to see the progress that she has already made in changing her life to what she needs to be. The other night when we went to visit her we sat down and as we did I had a distinct impression to teach her the ‘Law of Chastity’. My first thought was, “no way”, it just didn’t seem, to me, the right time, nevertheless we proceeded to teach her the law of chastity. We had a great lesson...nothing very notable...just a normal lesson. A few days later we came back for our next visit. As soon as we sat down, she was already freaking out, she was so excited, you could see a change in her that was incredible. We sat down and she proceeded to tell us how the past week the university had called her and said that they had upped the cost of tuition after she had already graduated, by the way. They told her that if she didn’t pay it soon...they wouldn’t let her graduate..... To make a long story short she told us that her and her friends had, in a last ditch effort, decided to do something horrible to make money, something that if she did she would never be able to forgive herself for. The told us that the night when we had come and taught her the Law of Chastity, was the first night that she had decided to go out. When we were there...we told her that after she had promised to live this new law that Satan would try and do all that he could to get her to go against what she had just promised to do. Even that he would try in ways that he had never before tried.
She told us that that night she went into her room and told her roommates about what we had said, one of them tried to throw the book away. Another disagreed. But she told them, “the missionaries told me this would happen, God has asked me to do this, and if he has asked me to do it, then he will make a way. You do what you want...but I will leave mine to God.” She said instead of going out that night she stayed in her room all night and read the books we had given her and prayed that God would help her to find another way. The next day she organized, not a riot, but a ‘stand up’ to the university. Which, after just one day, they brought the cost back down and she wasn’t required to pay any more! It was amazing!
I left the lesson that day with just so much amazement that God could bring two little white guys from California and Utah half way around the world...put them right in the right place at the right time...and then inspire them to teach exactly what someone needed to hear in order to continue on their path to Christ. I know that I am nothing, but I also know that with God and I can do so much. I know the spirit gives us what we need. I know that if we are trying our best...no matter what...we are always being used, no matter how much we can’t see it, to do the things that God needs us to do at that time! God lives! He is there! He cares so much about each and every one of us. I know perfectly well that as I turn myself to God, as our investigator did, God has already prepared me a way to overcome my own temptations and hardships.
Yeah...Chief Booty is doing good, he is in Nigeria on business right now, but he called us the other day and told us, “I’ll make it up to you when I get back”, so that should be interesting. ha ha.
Lexi you are crazy! That is too many performances! I can’t believe how good my two sisters are getting at dance. I am actually pretty excited to come and watch when I get home!
QUESTIONS:
How was golfing?
-Didn’t go. Went and played rugby with the other zone leaders from the zone next to ours. Later the sisters came and we all made lunch together. I am so sore right now...I don’t know if I can even walk out of here. I did pretty good with Rugby...even though I’m the old man around here now.
Healthy this week?
-doing great!
Great things about your week?
-the experience in the story above was pretty cool.
Also, the my last transfer is starting.....I’m next!
Healthy. I can eat rice again, I was so sick of it so I detoxed for a while...and now it's good again.
Spiritual things?
-had some really good studies this week, some that I just really enjoyed. I finished the Book of Mormon a few weeks ago so now I am kinda just going trough doing some random studies.
Things you learned.
-I learned truly how God can consecrate our afflictions, our mistakes and our infirmities for our gain, if we let him of course. That was a bit of my study this week, dealing with Ammon in particular. I think he and I were kinda similar. In our bad days, we both liked money, we were not as excited about church stuff, we were really good with words...especially when using them to get what we wanted in a (somewhat) conniving way, we were the sons of some pretty awesome parents, who we caused a lot of pain at first to...then we changed, loved missionary work, used our tongues for righteous works, became poor servants...{and personally I think the people in Ishmael lived in round houses, around dark skinned people, had some hard times, but turned out alright:). }
Well I'm not really sure what else to really say..... Things are good, I am working hard, I’m healthy, I’m happy, I’m getting along with my companion, getting ready to get home, not overly but yeah, I think thats really about it.
Well I love you all so much, thanks for being awesome. Sorry I was like the lame Ammon for a while...hopefully I will be more like the cool Ammon when I come home.
Love you all,
Elder Bradshaw
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Chief Booty
Dear Family,
This week was awesome! I had one of my best weeks in a long time! We finally got to go to the temple again......I made it all the way through this time...AND...I finally got to see the new temple video, which is awesome! It was just a really good day.
There were a few things I thought were interesting. Honestly, I think Satan was the best done part. During the whole session I was a bit frustrated with myself, I was thinking, “Man...I’m really not supposed to like this guy, but he looks like he’s pretty cool.” Looking at him(Satan)...he seemed like the coolest one in the bunch to go and hang out with.
It really bothered me, and then it hit me....”duh! That’s how I am in life as well. Satan looks like a pretty cool guy, looks fun, looks nice, doesn’t seem too bad...but then he is, and we are in trouble.” It was something simple, but I thought they did a really good job with that part. The added emotion shed a lot of interesting insight, for me, that I really liked. So, that was a really sweet day! After the temple we had kind of a ‘going home’ zone conference for President and Sister Judd. It was super small, super personal so it was sweet. It’s starting to feel a bit more real, but not really....
Dad, I thought your story was hilarious about Jeff and the new boat ha ha. How sweet for them to have a boat! That’s awesome! Hopefully next time it will be a bit smoother for them.
Elli...Congrats on the elections! Thats so sweet! I’m the only one that wasnt a student council-or I guess....
QUESTIONS:
Spiritual Stuff:
- Temple was really really sweet! Then the next day we went and helped out a recent convert on their garden/farm so that she could have time to read the book of mormon, it was super sweet! Only one problem...I worked for like an hour and I have five blisters on my hand...I’m a softie now, I guess.
Companion stuff:
-He is doing well. We get along fine. He is good though.
Health stuff:
-doing great, rash is just about gone
P-day stuff:
-next week we have a district activity with the sisters....going golfing...ha ha, so pray for us that day.....
Great Story Stuff:
-Okay we have this investigator named Chief Booty. Yep, that’s really his name, and we call him that. Anyway he is a big time Nigerian chief, super loaded, but a really cool guy. We contacted him and taught a quick lesson one night and then went back for our official first lesson. When we went in and Arsenal (his team) was planning in some big final of some cup.... so we just decided not to try and butt heads with that...so we kinda just sat there and got to know him a bit while he watched the match. It went really well, he really likes us. We started teaching his son and it was all good. We were getting ready to go and he walked up stairs, so we waited. He comes back down and hands me this envelope, and says, “just a little something now that we are friends”.
I explained that we couldn’t take money and all that...he countered it with all this cultural stuff that he was obliged to do. Anyway...we exhausted all of our excuses very quickly, and were late for a meeting with the bishop so we took it, he told us just to go and get dinner and that he would pay for it. So...we somehow justified it. We left, and I opened it up, 200 cedis! That’s what the mission gives me for an entire month of living expenses! It was crazy! We talked a lot about it, talked it over with Elder Honour and his companion...and I guess determined that it was okay...since it was for dinner.... So...we picked the nicest place in town and went to get some food. We sat down and it just hit me that it was so wrong. So I cancelled the order and went straight to give it back to him. We went there, he let us in, and I just told him, “Chief we appreciate it, but I really cant take this, I feel like I’m sinning.” God really helped us out on this one, and he was a bit drunk so it was all good :). Crazy experience thought!
Lessons Learning:
1. don’t take money from investigators. ever.
2. Don’t let my kids play video games
3. Rely on Heavenly Father.
Well I love you all so much! Be safe, have fun, read your scriptures.
Love,
Elder Bradshaw
This week was awesome! I had one of my best weeks in a long time! We finally got to go to the temple again......I made it all the way through this time...AND...I finally got to see the new temple video, which is awesome! It was just a really good day.
There were a few things I thought were interesting. Honestly, I think Satan was the best done part. During the whole session I was a bit frustrated with myself, I was thinking, “Man...I’m really not supposed to like this guy, but he looks like he’s pretty cool.” Looking at him(Satan)...he seemed like the coolest one in the bunch to go and hang out with.
It really bothered me, and then it hit me....”duh! That’s how I am in life as well. Satan looks like a pretty cool guy, looks fun, looks nice, doesn’t seem too bad...but then he is, and we are in trouble.” It was something simple, but I thought they did a really good job with that part. The added emotion shed a lot of interesting insight, for me, that I really liked. So, that was a really sweet day! After the temple we had kind of a ‘going home’ zone conference for President and Sister Judd. It was super small, super personal so it was sweet. It’s starting to feel a bit more real, but not really....
Dad, I thought your story was hilarious about Jeff and the new boat ha ha. How sweet for them to have a boat! That’s awesome! Hopefully next time it will be a bit smoother for them.
Elli...Congrats on the elections! Thats so sweet! I’m the only one that wasnt a student council-or I guess....
QUESTIONS:
Spiritual Stuff:
- Temple was really really sweet! Then the next day we went and helped out a recent convert on their garden/farm so that she could have time to read the book of mormon, it was super sweet! Only one problem...I worked for like an hour and I have five blisters on my hand...I’m a softie now, I guess.
Companion stuff:
-He is doing well. We get along fine. He is good though.
Health stuff:
-doing great, rash is just about gone
P-day stuff:
-next week we have a district activity with the sisters....going golfing...ha ha, so pray for us that day.....
Great Story Stuff:
-Okay we have this investigator named Chief Booty. Yep, that’s really his name, and we call him that. Anyway he is a big time Nigerian chief, super loaded, but a really cool guy. We contacted him and taught a quick lesson one night and then went back for our official first lesson. When we went in and Arsenal (his team) was planning in some big final of some cup.... so we just decided not to try and butt heads with that...so we kinda just sat there and got to know him a bit while he watched the match. It went really well, he really likes us. We started teaching his son and it was all good. We were getting ready to go and he walked up stairs, so we waited. He comes back down and hands me this envelope, and says, “just a little something now that we are friends”.
I explained that we couldn’t take money and all that...he countered it with all this cultural stuff that he was obliged to do. Anyway...we exhausted all of our excuses very quickly, and were late for a meeting with the bishop so we took it, he told us just to go and get dinner and that he would pay for it. So...we somehow justified it. We left, and I opened it up, 200 cedis! That’s what the mission gives me for an entire month of living expenses! It was crazy! We talked a lot about it, talked it over with Elder Honour and his companion...and I guess determined that it was okay...since it was for dinner.... So...we picked the nicest place in town and went to get some food. We sat down and it just hit me that it was so wrong. So I cancelled the order and went straight to give it back to him. We went there, he let us in, and I just told him, “Chief we appreciate it, but I really cant take this, I feel like I’m sinning.” God really helped us out on this one, and he was a bit drunk so it was all good :). Crazy experience thought!
Lessons Learning:
1. don’t take money from investigators. ever.
2. Don’t let my kids play video games
3. Rely on Heavenly Father.
Well I love you all so much! Be safe, have fun, read your scriptures.
Love,
Elder Bradshaw
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