18 Months

18 Months ago today, on May 15, 2013…

                I hugged my family members goodbye for the last time...

                I fought back tears as I followed a “host” Sister into the MTC...

                I put on my plaqueta for the first time...

                And thus the “Best 18 Months” began!

Sooooo much has happened since then… I’ve learned so much, met more wonderful people than I can count, and I really loved every day. I don’t feel up to making any kind of summary or statements about the mission right now, but I’m sure I’ll refer to it frequently in future posts.

For now, in the Spirit of the Season, I’d like to COUNT MY BLESSINGS… one for each day in November!

1. Bruno was baptized! In the ocean near Relva, Mosteiros, Cabo Verde. He had the biggest smile on his face that whole day. (Look closely and you can see the excited grin!)
   
2. I had the chance to bear my testimony in sacrament meeting for the last time… accompanied by many tears.
3. Last P-day on the mission! P-days were the most stressful and tiring of all the days.  
4. A few of my recent converts came to institute class all on their own!
5. Sister Neto and I played a little bit of “soccer” for our early morning exercise. Joy!
6. “Surprise” Farewell party for me at the church. I love my ward.
   
   
   
   
7. One of our eternal investigators actually admitted that he should be giving a little bit more effort to find out if The Book of Mormon is true or not… progress!
8. Last Zone Meeting! And Denny opened his mission call—Cape Verde Praia Mission!!!
9. My last day in Relva… I was just grateful to be there, though the goodbyes were really difficult. 
   
10. On our midnight flight from Praia, Cabo Verde to Lisbon, Portugal, the plane was practically empty, so we could all lie down and sleep. Tender mercy.
11. I SAW MY FAMILY! After a year and a half, I arrived home safely to everyone but Gabe, who is still serving in Peru.  
12. Inspired advice from President Bunting as he released me, and time to catch up with dear old friends… including Zach, via Skype!
13. Pedicure, haircut, Café Rio, and clothes shopping with Mom. Feeling very spoiled. 
14. What About Bob?
15. The radio seemed to play only the biggest hits from a year and a half ago... just for me! I enjoyed EVERY song that came on on my way to buy shampoo and running shoes. 

I have a lot to be thankful for. Heavenly Father is good to me. 

I HAVE grown a foot or two!

Dear Sister Bradford,

You are hereby called to serve as a MISSIONARY of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

You are assigned to labor in the Cape Verde Praia Mission.

You will enter the Provo Missionary Training Center on
Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Portuguese language.

I already shared this on Facebook, but it's just too perfect, so if you didn't see it there, see it here.

How did I get so lucky?? I can't stop Googling pictures of gorgeous beaches and adorable sailboats and maps of remote African Islands! Because I'm going to AFRICA! (Waka Waka) 

The Church there is small, but growing. The first Stake was organized in April 2012, and there is now a membership of about 8,000 Latter-day Saints (out of a population of a bit over 500,000) living on six of the nine inhabited islands. Here is a helpful article that was recently published by the Church. 

I only have one small regret about this call: I really didn't want a call that was difficult/awkward to pronounce. Because I knew it would be something I'd find myself telling people a LOT. I have always said Cape "Vair-day" (as in the Spanish spelling of green), because that's what everyone says. But the wise sources that would know the ACTUAL answer (Wikipedia, Google Translate, and The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary) say that it's Cape "Vurd" (as in turd) or "Verd" (as in nerd) or "Vird" (as in bird). So until I start using the Portuguese pronunciation (Cabo Viergi?--no idea how to even spell that) I either sound like I don't know what I'm talking about, or I betray Truth by pronouncing it wrong to blend in with the American crowd. It's a common predicament, I suppose. HOWEVER, this is a small price to pay to have the privilege of actually going to Cape Vurd to serve for 18 months. It's a sacrifice I am more than willing to make. 

I am still just giddy with excitement. That's all for now. (But I'm sure you haven't heard the end of it.) 

Papes! (And not the Newsies kind.)

As of this morning, my LDS missionary application has been
officially submitted!

My availability date is April 24, 2013.
My call should arrive in the mail in January.

I am excited to see when and where the Lord needs me to serve!

There are a lot of things motivating me to serve a mission. First and foremost is my love of my Savior Jesus Christ, and all the happiness His Gospel has brought me. I can honestly say that EVERYTHING good in my life is somehow connected to my membership and belief in

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I want to do what small thing I can, give my widow's mite back to the Lord, to show my gratitude for all He has given me. I love Him--and He commanded those who love Him to feed His sheep. (John 21:15-17)

I believe Elder Russell M. Nelson said it beautifully:

"All missionaries... serve with the sole hope of 

making life better for other people."

Finally, my favorite scripture and a key motivator:

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" 

(Doctrine and Covenants 18:10). 

What more can I say? I love God and I love His children. That's why I, and so many others, choose to go. I can't wait!

********************************************************

P.S. Your Christmas season is not complete until you've seen this. Beautiful.

Merry Christmas, my friends! 

Fine! (Fee-nay!)

Ahhhhhhhhhhh. I can relax. With another semester of college under my belt! I took my last final this morning, and now I can truly rest easy until January 7, 2013!

This is how I feel:

It has been such a great semester though; I have learned a ton about our society, our minds, our past, our bank accounts, our bodies, and our Savior.

PLUS I have had the most fun semester of my life (out of three. yeah.) I made some incredible new friends and strengthened relationships with my old friends. You know how sometimes you just find new friends, and you don't know how or why, but it just works out perfectly? Like you have all been friends since birth, even though you've only known each other for a few months? You just CLICK? That happened to me this semester. Nothing beats a good BRO-DOWN. Nothing.

I got to play soccer with my old high school teammates again on an intramural team--that was glorious. I've even picked up my cello a few times too!

After saying goodbye to almost every male friend I had, I have seen SO MANY of my gal pals decide to serve full-time missions--and this was supposed to be the year that all my friends got engaged! I am so excited for all of these ladies because missions are wonderful things!

And now? I get to watch Phantom of the Opera to kick off my 3 week break. Life is good, and don't you forget it!

But it's THANKSgivin'!

Since July of this year, I have been keeping a Daily Gratitude Journal. I haven't been perfect--sometimes I cheat a little bit and write three days' worth on one day, but it has been a very rewarding exercise. And it's so fun to go back and read little happy snippets of my life! Leaving out the more personal ones and many of the ones that specifically mention names, here are a few of the things I have been grateful for these past few months:

I’m grateful that I can feel the Spirit every time I go to church.

I’m grateful for my mom... she is an absolute champion...

I am so so so so grateful that Zach Brown has been a significant part of my life since the beginning of 8^th grade (2006!)

I am grateful for my extended family, and the love they all show to me and to each other.

I am grateful for letters from missionaries. Got my first one from Zach today. J J J J J J

I am grateful that people who need help or service from me occasionally cross my path. I need to be better at seeking out the ones who need my help, but I love it when someone makes it easy for me to help them. 

I am grateful that my friends and I do fun, crazy things, such as wrestling a pig in the Utah County Fair!

I am grateful that Sara, Kelsey, and I arrived home safely after a fun trip to Cedar City!

I am grateful that I get to teach Relief Society.

I am grateful that I got to play some pickup soccer today.

I am grateful that school has started! It’s going to be a challenging but very rewarding semester.

I am grateful that the Church takes such good care of its youth. Elder Holland’s CES Devotional talk was, as always, powerful and inspiring. I love being a part of this amazing, worldwide Church.

I am so grateful to be playing 7 v. 7 Intramural Soccer with my best friends from Timpview Soccer! Friends are amazing!

I watched “Titanic” tonight with Heather, Trina, and Sara. I love my girlfraaaands. I’m also really super-duper glad that Zach is not dead. (Like Jack. From Titanic.)

I am grateful for my flexibility class. It is great to have time to just unwind.

Even though I wish I was not sick today, I am grateful that I had time to come home and try to sleep it off. I’m not completely better, but that 4-hour nap had to have helped a little bit.

I am grateful for Fridays.

I am grateful that I can vicariously enjoy other people’s romances, while mine is on a 24-month sabbatical. Congratulations, you cute couples. You make life fun. 

I am grateful that I got a calling! I am a member of the Ward Activities Committee. I think it will be a lot of fun, and it will force me to go to the ward activities… the Lord knows me so well.

I am grateful for pizza.

I am grateful that I got so much done today.

I am grateful for movie quotes.

I am grateful for new friends!

I am grateful for personal revelation.

I am grateful that I got that reading done. 

I am grateful I can laugh at my silly mistakes.

I am grateful for my dad. I love spending time with him, laughing at him, laughing at other people with him, him making me laugh, and just being around him in general.

I am grateful for the TWO letters that came to me today from Ben Jacob! He is such an uplifting and kind friend. Couldn’t live without him!

I’m grateful that I get to go to bed early tonight.

I’m grateful for good TAs and good test reviews.

I am grateful for our kind FHE brothers who made us dinner tonight.

Today I voted in my first Presidential Election. I am glad to have a voice in my country, however small it may be. 

I am thankful for… what else?? THANKSGIVING!

This is a great little clip, but the most important part is 0:25-0:27.

I am grateful to all of you for reading this far. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

May we continue to be grateful all year 'round. 

Clive Staples

(What a great name that is.)

An interesting thought on how we should try to relate to others from a brilliant Christian writer, C. S. Lewis (Mere Christianity):

"Christianity thinks of human individuals not as mere members of a group or items in a list, but as organs in a body--different from one another and each contributing what no other could. When you find yourself wanting to turn your children, or pupils, or even your neighbours, into people exactly like yourself, remember that God probably never meant them to be that. You and they are different organs, intended to do different things. On the other hand, when you are tempted not to bother about someone else's troubles because they are 'no business of yours,' remember that though he is different from you he is part of the same organism as you. If you forget that he belongs to the same organism as yourself you will become an Individualist. If you forget that he is a different organ from you, if you want to suppress differences and make people all alike, you will become a Totalitarian. But a Christian must not be either a Totalitarian or an Individualist.

"I feel a strong desire to tell you--and I expect you feel a strong desire to tell me--which of these two errors is the worse. That is the devil getting at us. He always sends errors into the world in pairs--pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse. You see why, of course? He relies on your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one. But do not let us be fooled. We have to keep our eyes on the goal and go straight through between both errors. We have no other concern that that with either of them."

 All I have to add is "Amen."

V-O-T-E VOTE!

Today is Election Day!!

I know it's a hassle, but if you have not yet voted, take the time to go to the polls today.

Because if you don't, you lose all rights to complain about politics for the next four years!!

Just kidding, you should vote because, as an American citizen, it is your privilege and responsibility to do so. Make an informed decision and then do your part by participating in the political process. Even if your vote doesn't count.

Because let's be honest... mine definitely won't.