January 27

I KNEW IT!!! I FELT YOUR PRESENCE!!! 

I was literally was like "I bet you anything my family is in Florida right now... "

But that's crazy with HSN! How did everything sell? 

Yes, last week was kinda rough.. not gonna lie. I wasn't sleeping well even though I was taking this supposed miracle medicine called melatonin that's supposed to make you sleep super soundly... Still woke up. I was having some anxiety issues... Especially when it came to tracting... Like.. on the verge of tears sometimes.. But this week has been amazing! I had a phone call with President on Tuesday or something... That was really helpful. I'm not in trouble and I'm not coming home! haha I just need some help working through that. And I started praying really really hard that I wouldn't be anxious anymore because I wanted to be here and that I wanted to be able to work to the best of my abilities.. The next day... No anxiety.. Whatsoever. It's a miracle! Heavenly Father is so dang good to me. And then the other day.. I actually kind of enjoyed tracting.. What?! And so we always leave pass-a-long cards at every door if they don't answer saying like "Come to church!" with the church address and time.... SOMEONE CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY BECAUSE OF OUR PASS-A-LONG CARD!!! That has never ever ever happened! Miracles everywhere!

Also, it was stake conference this weekend, so Saturday it was at the Hendricks building... Oh my gosh that area is freaking GORGEOUS. I want to serve there so so so so bad. It's all these amazing old homes! Look it up! But stake conference went... a half hour over... So it was from 7 to 9:30.. It was ridiculous. But Sunday was amazing! It was a broadcast through all the stakes in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Elder Gay and Kopischke from the 70, Sis McConkie from the general YW presidency and Elder Nelson spoke! It was fantastic! And our investigators were there and all the talks were exactly what they needed to hear and they were crying the whole time and it was just great. MIRACLE AGAIN!

This week I have seriously grown to love the Book of Mormon... Even more. I can't get enough... Most the time I study that for my entire personal study and nothing else. I've been in 2 Nephi and then Jacob, Omni whatever.. Then I just finished Mosiah! I love it so much! I have never learned so much from it in my entire life! I can't get enough! It seriously relates so much to our time now. I can't even begin to tell you how much it can relate to us personally. I love it so much. Read it. Every day. I'm telling you. It helps so much.

But other things that have been going on... We're still getting fed quite a bit. We got to go to the Cummer museum on Tuesday with the Relief society and it was awesome. I've been sick the past few days with this crappy cold... Because it's been SO cold here.. The other day, right before I got sick. It was 40 degrees with wind and humidity... It was freezing.. and I obviously don't have winter clothes. All the locals are freaking out about how cold this winter has been and they've never experienced a winter like this here... Of course that happens to me. And there's supposed to be another cold front coming through on Thursday?

But this week has been so much better! Next week I'll have been in Florida for a month! Weeeiiirrrrdddddddd. But I seriously love this gospel so much! I love being a missionary! Even though I get discouraged sometimes. I know that I'm supposed to be here and There's someone who needs me! I love this gospel with all my heart! I love you guys!!!

Love,

Sister Bradford

January 20

I'VE BEEN OUT A MONTH!!!! WWWHHAATTT??!!!

This week has been really good! We've been fed every single night this past week. And we have more this week too. It's been great... I don't think I've eaten so much spaghetti in my liiiffeee. Sis Houtz said it's not normally like that.. haha But one of the appointments we had was with Sis WG she's a recent convert and she lives in the historical district of downtown Jacksonville! (not in my area, but we got permission, she got special permission to be in our ward) Her house is ggoorrrggeeeouuusss. I guess some rich guy went through and renovated a whole bunch of houses and sold them. So she has these like, Tiffany chandeliers and what not. I'll send you a picture of the outside (see below) and know that the inside is just as beautiful and so cute. I died when we pulled up haha. But anyway. We had dinner last night with the W fam. They're hilarious! They reminded me a bunch of Alisa's family. It was refreshing to be with them. I feel awkward a lot at people's houses because conversation can be kinda forced. But they're awesome haha. 

We had an amazing lesson the other day with the Wall family (our investigator) They're so ready to be baptized! She just needs to quit smoking and drinking coffee and they need to get married. They've been living together for 7 years! But besides that! haha. So we had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom and the law of chastity, which you think would be awkward? But it really wasn't... So that was nice.

I spoke yesterday in church! I was the concluding speaker... The lady before me... uhhh.. Well let's just say her talk was interesting.. And took up a long time.. So I only had 5 minutes.. hahaha. But it's all good. I'm doing a musical number in two weeks anyway.. hahah

But how is everyone else?? How's school going for everyone? How's grandma and grandpa? They're still in Alabama right? Have you guys been in Florida yet? hahaha. Can you send me.. like in the mail.. More pictures of the family? I don't have enough.. hahah So it can be like.. just you and dad, or just me, zach and kass.. grandma and grandpa. And I want good pictures of the dog and the cat too haha.

But anywho. I've been super good. I love youuuu!!!!

January 13

So I'm in the Jax East zone in the Ft. Caroline ward!!! My comp is Sis Houtz. She's super cool. She's 26 and from Fort  Collins Colorado. And Yes... It was quite cold. But now the weather is absolutely lovely haha

So this week has been super eventful! The first real day there we helped a lady move in. Her situation is so sad, her husband was deported at the beginning of the month and the cops did it right in front of her kids. So so so sad. It was in a sketchier part of town, but I enjoyed it. The area I'm serving in is too nice... hahaha. There were confederate flags up in peoples yards and trailers on trailers. The south I've been wanting! hahaha. 

I seriously love all the members so much! There are so many cute old ladies that we go and visit because they're less active. Except Sister C (I'm not giving full names and I'm changing names because this is going up on a blog.) She's the sweetest thing! She's in her mid 90's and still kickin! I love her so much. We also visited a sister the other day who's probably in her late 70's and her favorite show is The Big Bang Theory!! I laughed so hard when she said that. She's a crack up.

The members and the ward is amazing! The ward already has me super busy haha. I taught gospel principles yesterday, I'm speaking next sunday. Teaching the Sunday after that and doing a musical number after that hahaha. They somehow stalked my mormon.org profile and saw that I sang, so the sacrament music coordinator hunted me down yesterday hahaha. 

So we've been teaching the Wall family (The name has been changed) Sis Houtz was teaching them before I got here. And they're awesome! They've been coming to church and they love it and their daughter loves it too! We have a baptismal date set for them too!!! They just need to get married and quit smoking now... hahaha But they're great! I love them so much and I love teaching! They're so ready to join too! It's amazing! I can't wait for their baptism! 

So I thought you might enjoy this. This first time I went tracting, the first door we got to the lady was like, "who is it?" and sister houtz was like "The sister missionaries!" and then all you hear is ".... No.." hahaha. My very first door. It was great haha And then we were tracting for a little while longer, Sis Houtz had been taking the lead the whole time and she finally told me I had to speak. So we knock on this door and I had the perfect intro and said all the right things and then the guy just looks at me and says "... No english..." hahahah my luck. 

We really haven't been getting any new investigators... It's mostly been just visiting less actives, because we have A LOT in our area.. So that's been our big focus, trying to get them to come to church again and then having the members fellowship. I just wish they'd realize how beautiful the gospel is!! I love the gospel. haha

I seriously love being out here. On some real levels. It's definitely had it's ups and downs this week but it's totally worth it. I love you guys so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Sister Bradford

January 7

Hi!!! I made it! Safe and sound! Our flight from Atlanta to Jacksonville was delayed about 2 hours because it was only 9 degrees outside! So they had issues with things freezing and what not. haha. But I'm here! The mission pres and wife are amazing and so are the other members that we've met! I get assigned tomorrow! I love you!!!!! Write you Monday!!!

(From mom: This is a photo that the mission president's wife sent to me just a little before Jordan sent her email. It was a fun surprise. :) )

January 4

Moooooommmmmmyyyyy!!

Surprise! We got kicked out of the gym because they don't let you play right before you leave in case you get hurt... Soooooo the guy was like "you can do whatever you want... like email your family" so here I am. Emailing haha. We played tag for a little... And I think we might play hide and seek soon haha... Anyway. The rest of my district leaves on Monday. Then me and Sister Egbert leave on Tuesday. It's so weird... So Monday it's going to be just me, Sis Egbert and some teachers... It's going to be really interesting haha. 

I've had some super cool experiences today! So our teachers act like investigators they had so we can teach them. Anyway we've been teaching Robert, who is Bro Flinders in real life... It's been really cool. But today he finally told us all about him. And he died! Like last year of aids... It completely altered how I viewed the situation. Because he was like "I chose him because I feel like... he helps me" It is seriously insane!! I really really felt Robert's love for Bro Flinders and for the missionaries. It was so cool.

Our new district in my zone is full of squares... They're so freaking different from ours haha. We laugh and we joke, but we still can be serious. They're just straight serious. All the time. My district for the most part has the same personality. I love them so much. It's going to be so hard to leave them! Tomorrow is our last full day together!

So I hope I can get that package Monday! We won't have a DL to go get our mail... So i don't know how that is going to work?? 

Card reader? My comp doesn't have one.. haha. I can't really remember what you wrote in that letter today?? But thanks for that! I love getting letters?? What's Kass's email?? 

I love you! Hopefully you're on your computer right now!

-Sister Bradford

January 2

TIS MY LAST P DAY IN THE MTC!!!! SAY WWWHHHAAATTT??!!

K. So I wanted to be able to send pictures... but it just wasn't working... darn... hahaha

Well anywho.. Half of my heart left the MTC this week :( The other district from my zone left... It was pretty sad... We're all super tight... I'm gonna miss my Sister Esplin and Sister Matkin :( crackin out the disney songs in the shower and what not. We're literally the same people... And Elder Watkins... We always talked in British accents and pretended to wear monocles... He's pretty cool haha. 

(This is Jordan's mom--she told me to leave this following story in her email because it was one of the funniest thing that happened in the MTC.)

Also.... I fart at the worst possible times... I seriously had never farted in front of anyone while I've been here... The other day I ripped one while talking to Elder Wilbert... Everyone heard hahahaha It was actually pretty freaking hilarious. I was pretty embarrassed for obvious reasons and he was like "... well at least it didn't stink" yeah... It's safe to say we have too much fun sometimes.. And we laugh a lot. And then we were having a heart felt prayer before the other district left and sister matkin's stomach started to grumble during the prayer... So I started laughing... and then I tooted.. during the prayer... Yep... I'm officially the tooter.... It's whatevs... hahahaha

But on the bright side! WE GOT A  NEW ZEALANDER!! Elder Ormsby... He's... You know... hahaha

New Years eve was uneventful... I was out cold by 10:30 haha. Thank you for the packages by the way!!!! My roomies appreciate the candy, as do I! You should be getting a card soon.

I also got a blessing at the beginning of the week and it was amazing! I was having a rough time with feeling like I wasn't catching on as fast as the rest of the kids and I couldn't pay attention, So I was feeling pretty inadequate. So I asked the Elders to give me a blessing and it was seriously the coolest thing I have ever experienced. It was like.. Right when they made the circle around me, you could just feel their power.. It was then that I realized what power these young elders hold. It's insane! It gives me the chills just thinking about it! It built my testimony on Priesthood so much and extremely relevant it is in my life and how grateful I am for the priesthood! Elder Pulotu was the one who gave me the blessing and it's crazy how much the Lord guides them in what to say. Because he said some things that I know he couldn't have picked up from what I had talked about to him.

We've been teaching a lot of "investigators" and I love it so much! And we practiced street contacting... It's so much fun! I love missionary work!!!!!

I haven't seen Jake... Elder Story.. yet. No joke, everywhere I walk, especially if it's busy I shout out "Elder Story... Elder Jacob Marlin Story"... I'm going to keep doing it until I find him. But I did see Elder Heimuli!!! (Tohi)

This week has been so much better! I'm finally catching on and the vibes I have are so much better! I just had a constant frustrated feeling for 2 weeks, but now I'm finally feeling the spirit really really strong! I know the Lord has been helping me so much! I'm also getting really good at remembering scriptures! My knowledge of them has grown a ton! It's awesome. I love studying the Book of Mormon and the bible and seeing all the cross references and how much they complete each other.  - Side story, Elder Galovich... the kid has the first 9 CHAPTERS!  Of The Book of Mormon memorized... You give him a chapter and the verse and he'll quote it word for word! It's nuts!-  I know that my Heavenly Father and my Savior know me exactly and that they are always there to help. I love letting our investigators know that they are children of God. My favorite thing to talk about is prayer!! Prayer is the best thing ever. Letting people know they can have a relationship with their Father in Heaven is amazing. And thanks for all the love and support.! I'm so excited to finally be going to Florida! We fly out on the 7th, so I'll probably call at like... 6 in the morning or something?? 

I love you guys!!!!

Sister Bradford