Christmas is Coming, The Elders are getting fat!
Hello hello hello! I'm back with another update on the "adventurous" life of a missionary. It was honestly a solid week!
December 15, 2020 Tues
Today was P-Day! My last P-Day with Elder Bates. So we went shopping (I bought a tiny Christmas tree), got Capriotti's again (Bates got an 18 inch Cheesesteak and ate it in 5 minutes, I also found out there is a location in Roseville! Score!) After that we dropped off stuff we bought, then hungout with Gish and some others, called fam, got pizza, and had a few lessons.
December 16, 2020 Weds
Today was transfers. We moved Bates' stuff to his new apartment, then prepped my apartment for a trio. We went and got Fiz before going to the mission office to transfer. I met up with Elders Jenks (who is from Anarbor, Michigan) and Elder Sudweeks (who is from Carthage, Texas). We got unpacked and set up. Then we had 3 lessons in the evening. At one, the daughter asked if we knew Elder Johnson, I said "yes he was my companion." Turns out she went on a date with Johnson before the mission! I was dying of laughter!
December 17, 2020 Thurs
Today was the first full day in a trio and it was good. I'm on an air mattress which is absolutely awful, and so very uncomfortable. So that stinks. Other than that we had a few lessons cancel and a few go through.
(***Elder Bradford told us that he volunteered for the air mattress to help prepare himself for the not so great mattresses in Uganda.
December 18, 2020 Fri
We had District Council Meeting today with our new District. In it there's our Tripanionship, Hanson & his greenie Hardy, Campbell & Zaugg, and Most & DeLoach. It was good. We’ve got some cool Elders. After DCM the 3 of us grabbed lunch from Wendy's then chilled a bit. We had a few member lessons, were given 2 meals, plus some freeze dried candies. I honestly have never felt so blessed, we have too much food in our tiny apartment!
December 19, 2020 Sat
One year ago today I officially reported to the Johannesburg, South Africa MTC. I have been on my mission for an entire year...wow! We helped out doing some service by moving stuff into a storage unit today. The guy we were helping was a young dude, not much older than me. I found out he lived in Fair Oaks for a bit and we had some mutual friends! Pretty cool! Gish and his greenie Elder Yaena stopped by and witnessed our tiny apartment, it’s always good to see him. We had a few lessons today, we were given Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner, and I burned a shirt for my year mark. I've made it this far, let's get to the rest of it!
December 20, 2020 Sun
Today we went to 2 wards. Both had musical numbers that were awesome, and at one a talk was given told a story that I'll summarize a bit. A special needs girl was giving a talk in Sacrament Meeting the Sunday before Christmas. She was giving the talk when about half way through she started crying and had a hard time finishing the talk. Right after the closing prayer she ran to her Grandma saying, "Grandma, did you see him? Did you see him?" Her Grandma asked "Who?" "Jesus" she responded, "He was standing by the door." I thought it was so cool. After church we had all of our lessons most in person, but a couple over Zoom. We also had Stake Correlation Meeting over Zoom as normal, and a little time to chill. Elders Jenks, Sudweeks, and I all get along pretty well, and we've had some fun together already!
Going back to the story I mentioned earlier it reminded me of the thought I had of "What would I do if I saw the Savior standing at my door?" I often think about this and almost always it involves so much joy I begin to weep at the feet of My Savior.
Just imagine it. Opening the door, looking, and seeing Jesus's smiling face. I would be overcome with emotions. I would wanna hug, and I'm sure he would give one back.
The follow up question I would like to leave with you is:
December 15, 2020 Tues
Today was P-Day! My last P-Day with Elder Bates. So we went shopping (I bought a tiny Christmas tree), got Capriotti's again (Bates got an 18 inch Cheesesteak and ate it in 5 minutes, I also found out there is a location in Roseville! Score!) After that we dropped off stuff we bought, then hungout with Gish and some others, called fam, got pizza, and had a few lessons.
December 16, 2020 Weds
Today was transfers. We moved Bates' stuff to his new apartment, then prepped my apartment for a trio. We went and got Fiz before going to the mission office to transfer. I met up with Elders Jenks (who is from Anarbor, Michigan) and Elder Sudweeks (who is from Carthage, Texas). We got unpacked and set up. Then we had 3 lessons in the evening. At one, the daughter asked if we knew Elder Johnson, I said "yes he was my companion." Turns out she went on a date with Johnson before the mission! I was dying of laughter!
 |
| There’s a bed under the luggage on the left 😳 |
Today was the first full day in a trio and it was good. I'm on an air mattress which is absolutely awful, and so very uncomfortable. So that stinks. Other than that we had a few lessons cancel and a few go through.
(***Elder Bradford told us that he volunteered for the air mattress to help prepare himself for the not so great mattresses in Uganda.
Here are a couple of pictures that were sent to us from the families they were able to visit with. They both had wonderful things to say about the boys. ***)
 |
Elder Jenks (left) Elder Sudweeks (middle) and Elder Bradford (right) |
We had District Council Meeting today with our new District. In it there's our Tripanionship, Hanson & his greenie Hardy, Campbell & Zaugg, and Most & DeLoach. It was good. We’ve got some cool Elders. After DCM the 3 of us grabbed lunch from Wendy's then chilled a bit. We had a few member lessons, were given 2 meals, plus some freeze dried candies. I honestly have never felt so blessed, we have too much food in our tiny apartment!
December 19, 2020 Sat
One year ago today I officially reported to the Johannesburg, South Africa MTC. I have been on my mission for an entire year...wow! We helped out doing some service by moving stuff into a storage unit today. The guy we were helping was a young dude, not much older than me. I found out he lived in Fair Oaks for a bit and we had some mutual friends! Pretty cool! Gish and his greenie Elder Yaena stopped by and witnessed our tiny apartment, it’s always good to see him. We had a few lessons today, we were given Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner, and I burned a shirt for my year mark. I've made it this far, let's get to the rest of it!
December 20, 2020 Sun
Today we went to 2 wards. Both had musical numbers that were awesome, and at one a talk was given told a story that I'll summarize a bit. A special needs girl was giving a talk in Sacrament Meeting the Sunday before Christmas. She was giving the talk when about half way through she started crying and had a hard time finishing the talk. Right after the closing prayer she ran to her Grandma saying, "Grandma, did you see him? Did you see him?" Her Grandma asked "Who?" "Jesus" she responded, "He was standing by the door." I thought it was so cool. After church we had all of our lessons most in person, but a couple over Zoom. We also had Stake Correlation Meeting over Zoom as normal, and a little time to chill. Elders Jenks, Sudweeks, and I all get along pretty well, and we've had some fun together already!
Going back to the story I mentioned earlier it reminded me of the thought I had of "What would I do if I saw the Savior standing at my door?" I often think about this and almost always it involves so much joy I begin to weep at the feet of My Savior.
Just imagine it. Opening the door, looking, and seeing Jesus's smiling face. I would be overcome with emotions. I would wanna hug, and I'm sure he would give one back.
The follow up question I would like to leave with you is:
"How would you recognize that it is Jesus Christ?"
I invite you to ponder this for yourselves and email your thoughts/results. I share this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
I love you all and pray for you often.
And may I ask some favors? Please pray for my Grandma Marilyn (she has just fallen and hurt herself), My Uncle Lynn's Family (Uncle Lynn recently and unexpectedly passed away), and my old Track/Cross Country Coach Tom Laythe (he is recovering from illnesses including COVID).
Thank you for your love and prayers, but please focus them on these wonderful people rather than me. They need it more.
Love you all.
Elder Bradford
I love you all and pray for you often.
And may I ask some favors? Please pray for my Grandma Marilyn (she has just fallen and hurt herself), My Uncle Lynn's Family (Uncle Lynn recently and unexpectedly passed away), and my old Track/Cross Country Coach Tom Laythe (he is recovering from illnesses including COVID).
Thank you for your love and prayers, but please focus them on these wonderful people rather than me. They need it more.
Love you all.
Elder Bradford
***We also received word today that Elder Bradford’s Visa was approved and that he has his itinerary to fly back to Uganda. He leaves early on January 1st and will make his way to Atlanta, Amsterdam and then on to Entebbe, Uganda. It will be another 24 hour adventure!***
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