Snail Mail from Chorley

The whole family enjoyed Elder Smith's letter
 which he wrote before he left the England MTC.

Buses and Exotic Cars

Brad was pretty excited about the many exotic cars in London. Here is a link to his photos of his MTC buds, the cars and the bus ride to London.
September 24th Letter's Photos

Now, I've Really Arrived

First Flat @ Vicarage Square, Grays

September 24, 2012 Monday

I haven't gotten to talk to you people for two weeks! Now I don't even know where to start goodness gracious... Well I'll try to remember some of the stuff that happened in the MTC about two weeks ago. First everyday seemed to go by so darn fast it was ridiculous. The first week went by so slow... and then the next just disappeared. I know I can't spell anymore but just bear  with me :) I've had the best time ever getting to know these Elders out here. They are the most amazing people I could ever meet. They have made such a difference in the MTC for me because they understand how I feel mostly because they are going through the same emotions that I have.

My district has meant a lot to me and I've grown closest to them and few other Elders. They have made my day with their dumb jokes and pictures that we draw on the white boards and such. I've never had a better time with people my age that are here for the purpose of learning how to teach the gospel. The spirit attends us every lesson and my two teachers are incredible. Bro. Day and Bro. McClure are two returned missionaries who are funny yet very spiritual when it comes to teaching. I wish high school was this fun. I've never met a more poweful priesthood leader like our MTC President Walker. He is amazing and has taught me so much I don't even know where to begin. I've had the pleasure of getting to hear his stories and listen to his powerful testimony and I know exactly why I came out here to teach. I'll send back a few pictures of me and him in just a bit.

The ending MTC testimony meeting literally had everyone in tears. I don't think I've ever felt a more powerful spirit of combined love and sacrifice of all the missionaries here that are willing to give of their time and effort just to build the Kingdom of God. I've learned to love this work so much more and it has made all the difference in my life. The last night was hard to say goodbye to all the friends I have made and I might not ever see them again, but that’s ok because there is Facebook and email... Technology is a Boss.

I have loved getting to know all these wonderful Elders that have helped me succeed at becoming a powerful missionary. We left on buses the next morning about 6:15 a.m. and that was a killer. We had to get up at four thirty and I was a little grumpy about that... The bus ride down was about five hours but we were just chatting and talking the whole way. We had our own Huge bus... kinda awesome. The bus fit about 100 people and we only had about 20 so tons of room.

As we entered London there was so much to see and do you want to know the best part? Exotic Sports Cars Everywhere! There is literally and Aston or Ferrari on every street corner, so I tried to get pictures... but the bus was moving too much so they were blurry. Best ride of my life. We got down to Hyde Park, the rich section of town, and there were nice cars everywhere. Best day of my life. I enjoyed seeing all the cars but when we got to the Hyde Park chapel I was amazed at the renovation they did to it.

The Hyde Park visitor center is the most high tech center in the world. So neat! We stepped inside and dropped our luggage and went to meet the mission president, and he is a kind man. Sister Jordan is the closest thing to Mom that I know of out here. She watches out for all of us and she's an amazing person. We had some lunch and then were introduced to our trainer companions. So my first companion is..............................Elder Hansen. I was stunned I was getting trained from an Elder from Utah. Elder Hansen is from Sandy Utah, and literally looks like an older, cooler version of Mark. He played lacrosse in high school and loves to ride motorcycles and extreme sports and such. I could go on about him like that forever, but he is a spiritual giant. He has been on his mission for just over a year, but he seems to have lived out here forever. He knows all the people and everything about how to be an Englishman.

After I was introduced to him we had a quick testimony meeting and we were off. Pretty much I thought we were going to get a bus to our flat but nope. We had to take the Tube out to my first area. My area is Grays, just south of London... You can Google it if you want Mom... and we are really close to the town center there, kinda, by the train station. We got off and walked to our run down little flat... I'm gonna be honest... it’s not very good. The toilet barely flushes... and the floor creaks and has holes... and a ton of other stuff I can complain about but I won't... It makes me love our home in Utah so much more and now I miss it... but anyways we came in and guess what the first thing we did was... Dropped my bags and went out tracting.

 I knew it was coming, but I was tired anyways. I love Elder Hansen's enthusiasm and he keeps me going. He's not harsh and doesn't push me too hard because I'm learning so much... but I placed my first Book of Mormon to a Muslim man that we met entering into his house. Really nice guys, and we shared with him the book and he accepted to read it and hopefully we'll meet up with him soon.

The only problems I have are that I didn't get a mattress pad or a good pillow. The second night we were here we met up with a member and her family. Her name is Miley and she is from Peru and she's amazing. She gave us dinner and while we were talking we were just talking about the apartment and she went and gave me a pillow. It was her son's who had just left for college and she wanted me to have it. I was baffled and thanked her a ton. I call it the Obedience Pillow because you get blessings for being obedient to the mission rules and such you get blessed. :) 

It was a great pillow too... but yeah the first few days here get long and tiring and my feet hurt from walking miles and miles around the town. Grays is really a kind of industrial town and not that pretty, but things only get better Elder Hansen said. The other towns are much more pretty this is just were all the docks are for the Thames River, so it gets kinda busy when the ships come in. We've gone finding in the town square just trying to talk to people, and I'll be serious, people are jerks. I've been cussed out, flipped off, all sorts of things but finding just those few people makes the entire day worth it. Just to have one person listen to your message makes the day feel worthwhile.

 I really miss all the nice people of Utah, but I'm doing fine. I'm just regular old me, trying to make the days worthwhile by teaching and preaching the gospel. I like talking to people on the streets more than knocking on doors because when you talk on the streets you know who you’re going to talk to, with knocking it’s just who ever shows up and sometimes it’s not a pretty site >_<. I've had fun for the past five days out here and I look forward to the next 6 weeks or possibly 12 with Elder Hansen.

I love you guys so much and I miss Utah a lot. I was reading your letters and sounds like Mark is having a lot of fun with his friends when it comes to Homecoming... I don't know exactly how things are going, but maybe Mark should pray and ask God to help him with his friends. I know that sounds dumb coming from me... but I've seen it make a difference in my actions especially to people I don't like that are out here. Heavenly Father really does make a big difference in our lives, and all you have to do is ask for those blessings. Really, I've seen a lot of miracles out here... from big to small. We literally prayed for the rain to stop while we were tracting and it stopped long enough for us to finish the houses we were tracting and get back to our flat. No Kidding! It may be just luck, but I think God watches out for his servants :) We can't always ask for things like that, but we can ask for comfort and help when we have difficult times.

I've had so many trials out here, and there are many more to go. Day 5 down, and two years to go... LOL.

I would like it, Mom, if you would send my emails to my MTC buddies for me. I'll get you a list of them next week, oh and our P Days are on Monday just so you know. I don't have the card with all their names and emails with me at the moment or else I'd give them to you, but send these emails to my closest friends because the mission president has asked that we don't email anyone except our families and him. But you can email them for me therefore I can be obedient and my friends can still hear what I'm up to. I'll put some more pictures up of us so you can post them on the blog :)

I'll give you a heads up on my financial situation... So, I received about 145 pounds a month for all my stuff I need. Both Elders receive this same amount. I started with about 70 but we get reimbursed for travel and some other stuff that I only need to worry about. If it’s all right I just need to get a few things with our own money like mattress pad, because for some reason I don't have one..., and extra socks. I had to use a lot for travel just to get here, so Elder Hansen has been buying our food and stuff so we're doing just fine there, plus we get invited over for dinner almost every other night, which is really nice. Also Mother... could you send me recipes for anything cheap that we could make because I'm starting to run low on ideas for different dinners... so that would be great.

Some of the pictures may be blurry because they are cars I tried to catch in the bus or while walking... like the blue Aston. I'll send more emails with more pictures. Alright I think I've tried to cover everything, if you want to know something specific just ask in your emails plus I love getting emails from Shannon and Whitney and if Daniel wants to he can send me one. Get Mark to get on it. Plus, I sent a real letter and should get there sometime this week, but I got rained on earlier this week and the paper my bag got ruined :( so could you send me more of that special printed paper you made me? Possibly? I understand if you can't... you'll just get letters that literally have water marks on them lol. I love you guys a ton and I'll send more pictures for yah. Can't wait to hear from you guys again. Don't be afraid to send me multiple emails and pictures I like looking at them and reading them. Love you Guys :)

Your Son and Brother

Elder Bradley Smith

PS But anyways the mission home address is England London Mission 64-68 Princes Gate Exhibition Road, South Kensington London. 

No PD to Write

OK, OK. I haven't been extremely motivated to post Brad's letter home last Tuesday. 'Cause we really didn't get much of one. Here it is:

"Hey I don't have a PD this week so I can't write long but I'm doing just fine, I'm printing off all the emails so I can read them.

Love you guys alot. And I'll let you know what my new PDay is.

Love, Elder Bradley Smith"

Photos and letters throughout week should help his inbox not be empty whenever he has his P-day. I shouldn't be surprised that it was 57F for a high and 55F for a low as well as raining in London yesterday. We could use some of that moisture:) Hopefully, we get it as snow!

Here's a link to all Brad's photos at the England MTC. Click on me!

Album 2 of the August 30th England MTC Group

I'm losing it I suppose. I had thought I posted the link to the second album for Brad's MTC group. Here it is:

August 30th England MTC Group Album 2

"SING!" Sing a Song

Looks like someone has gotten Bradley to sing.  The missionaries presented a fireside for three of the Chorley wards. Elder Wright of the Area Seventy spoke to the missionaries as well.

Jet Lag Overcome

You can tell Brad's overcome a nasty case of jet lag.  He looks much perkier!

Second Letter Home

September 11, 2012 Tuesday

Dear Family,

There has been so much that has been going on here, I don't think I can fill in all the gaps. Sister Williams pretty much keeps you up to date on what we are doing which is kind of nice that I don't have to. I'm sending photos of the church history travel and tour. When we went to the station to find people in Manchester, the first people I met were very nice and cool to talk with. Even though they don't accept our message I still feel that maybe i've made a link for them in the future, planting the seeds. The only thing I don't like about the city is that it stinks so bad. Cigarette smoke everywhere, its disgusting... but hey what can I do.

 I'm getting a haircut here in a few minutes so i'm not terribly excited for that. The MTC is just so darn busy. They always have me doing something and there is absolutely no free time. Kinda a pain. There are just times were I want to take a breather but they just keep us going and going. I love the people I have met though, and its been great getting to know them and to care for them. The time I have spent here has changed me alot, you probably wouldn't know it was me anymore, but I'm sure its a change for the better. 

I hope Mark is reading these so that he can know what to expect. The MTC is HARD. There is no question. But if we didn't do hard things then we wouldn't learn and progress. I'm glad i've made this decision to serve the Lord. I'm glad to hear about all the things going on at home, and it sounds like a madhouse even though i've lived there all my life. I can't express how much I love you guys. I want to speak to Shannon and Whitney and Daniel. I know you guys won't see me much more around the house after my mission, but I want to let you guys know that I love and care for you. I want to apologize for any time I may have made you feel bad or sad because I acted insentivily. The things I am now doing are changing me and helping me to become a better person and hopefully a better father someday.

 I want you to know that I have a powerful testimony of the Work I am doing, that my time here is well spent. I am having a party almost just getting to know these people. Take care of my stuff I left with you I know you guys love to play with it. Back to Mom, I'm going to ASDA/walmart today and i'm gonna have a look at the ihomes here or the clocks... so we'll see what they have. I won't buy anything that is expensive or obscenely expensive. Everything here is darn expensive to i'm trying my best to find cheaper stuff. Its good to hear you found my debit card, I was kinda worried about that. Is my card going to my mission president then? because I'm only here for the next week because I head out to the field next wednesday and I'm excited about that. 

I'll send what pictures I can through these emails. I love you all very much and i'll share my experiences in as much detail as possible. I'm just lucky I can type. My companion Elder R. types with two fingers so I don't know how he can type emails in the allotted time :) I'll write to you soon, possibly the day before I leave here. I'm lucky to have such a caring family.

Love Brother and Son

Elder Bradley Smith



PS Some of these are throughout Preston and Chorley. The river is the River Ribble where Heber C. Kimball baptised hundreds. The catholic church is in a small village of Charburn built in the 1300's !! And the last one is for Shannon, just so she can know that there are some cute sister missionaries out here.

ALBUM 2 for August 30th 2012 MTC Group

Here is a new link to a second album for the August 30th England MTC group.Aug 30th 2012 England MTC Group Album 2

Smidgen of Sunday Siteseeing

In the photo below Sis. Walker talks about when her father, Pres. Hinckley, first began his mission in Preston, England.

Downham is an idyllic village preserved as it looked 200 years ago and where Heber C. Kimball baptized up to 25 people a day in Chatburn Creek. Some days he had to chop 12-14 inches of ice off the creek--and Aynie thought the her August baptism in Stump creek, Star Valley, WY was a cold experience:)

Count Down to London

Less than two more weeks at the England MTC.

Young Mormon Blogger Mom in the UK

Brad's mom here--I follow a darling lady's blog because it has great ideas for YW's. Well, loooooo and behold she and her young family recently completed a trip to the UK where her parents-in-law are serving in the England MTC presidency. Since Brad is at the England MTC as this moment I found the photo layouts and historical information of her trip interesting. Here's the link to one of the blog posts. Preston

Jet Lagged-Shell Shocked

I have no Idea where to start. This whole week has felt like an eternity and I don't know what is going on it seems like. After I arrived here on thursday they have kept me busy constantly with everything from preparing lessons to teaching fake investigators 24/7. The whole waking up at 6:30 hasn't caused me any trouble but its weird being in a weird country with weird people every speaking an accent you only hear on tv. My first companion is Elder R. He's from  Scotland and he talks like a scottish person to. He's a great person but i feel a bit out of character being one of the few Americans here... I believe there are only four americans including me so I feel a little left in the wind. I'm constantly studying preach my gospel and such topics and I'm just so tired from everything i'm doing... I'm just glad we have a P day here or else i'd go nuts... I want to send back lots of pics so I'll see what I can do... oh and i'm sorry if i rack up a small bill here... Things are Freaking EXpensive here!! The currency exchange here is terrible. I turned in part of the money I had at a ASDA, or English Walmart, for a no commission exchange and got 57 pounds for 100 bucks! Totally not fair! I haven't really learned the value of the pound yet but stuff is expensive and I can't seem to use my electronics because the output of the wall sockets here is like 240 volts, twice ours. So I almost fried my iHome but I managed to keep it safe, and the first converter I used burned out! Literally smoke and everthing! I really really miss home right now  The missionaries here are great and if anything it helped me bond more to them and to learn how to grow up just a bit. I have a terrible accent according to Elder R. but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Another thing that is important, my debt card is gone from my wallet and i'm not sure if I left if home or not, but I have permission to check my emails a little earlier this week to get your response back from this. I'm not sure if I left it at home or if it got lifted off me. Its not like the happy bubble Utah is... so I don't really know how to handle myself public now... which is kind of odd. Mom I love you alot and I want you to know that, even if I seemed a little cold at the airport. What I was trying to avoid was breaking down in the middle of the airport and not being able to leave. But now that I have a companion and a district that looks out for me, and they are the very best. Up until a few nights ago I felt so tight kind of like a bottled up cork. It was amazing, it was like he could just see right through me and could tell that I was uncomfortable with all the new surroundings and such... These Elders are such an inspiration to me. So even if I miss home, I lucky to have met these amazing people here. I'm sending a few pictures back so post them up on the blog for me :) I'm trying to respond to multple emails in this short time so I promise i'll follow up more next week :)

I love you guys tons, 

Elder Bradley Smith

MTC Groove

Looks like Elder Smith is getting into the groove at the England MTC.  We're anxiously awaiting his first P-day mission letter.