It's All Good

Well it hasn't been the most eventful week ever. I won't lie, it gets kinda hard to spice of missionary letters since they all seems to turn out kind of the same. Well I'm surviving life if that is what you want to know. I guess I could fill this letter in with an entertaining story...

Once upon a time a Brazilian and a American were working in a lovely part of the world called Southend on Sea Essex. These lovely two individuals had an unfortunate run in with a couple of rough individuals known as Chavs. Not the friendliest of folks. After getting cussed at for a few minutes and few harmful threats and the direct intervention of God, these lovely young missionaries escaped unharmed... just a little shaken up.

Yeah... I don't really like experiences like that. There are a lot of nasty people here that have nothing better to do except cause trouble. When they say talk to everyone... sometime I wonder why I opened my mouth to those people... Well that's life I guess. I didn't get hurt or anything so don't worry. Besides my companion is a professional kick boxer... well semi professional. So what's the worst that could happen?

Yeah, we haven't had to many new people begin investigating this week. It's been a little bit rough, so I'm working with what we've got. Continuing forward is what we can do.

So from my family, I heard you bought another Buick Regal. We now have twin cars... that's kinda weird. I guess if you get a great deal for 6,000 you can't really argue now can you. Well I'm gonna have to do something drastic to make Reggie look cooler than Reggina. Silver paint job on Reginna is probably a bit cooler than the cream colour on my car. You know what, I'm gonna get a spoiler for him. That'll be pretty cool :)

Well Dad, I hope you are not to worn out by tiling the house for the past three months, but it'll be really cool to come home and see all the stuff that you have done. It's gonna be a completely different house :) Well it won't be to long before I see Utah again. I really do miss that place. The nice desert air will be good to breathe again :)

Well I hope everyone is doing ok. Hope you have a great week.

Love,

Elder Bradley Smith 

Slight Slumps for Minor Bumps

South End on Sea

Well as most people know, not every week is perfect. I guess that is a fairly apparent way to say that we struggled a bit with some of our investigators. We had quite a few drop us this week, obviously meaning that we are teaching less. We are doing our best to counteract the loss in our teaching pool and we are having some success with some newer investigators we have been teaching.

Well enough with the distressing stuff that I deal with from day to day life, I'd rather fill you in on the good stuff. We managed to only have one day of rain this week! Unbelievable right? Well I'm enjoying the lovely and very changeable weather of Southend. Mostly it's just really windy because it is so near the seafront. 

Godzilla vs. Killer Shrimp

A member took us out for an all you can eat Chinese buffet and I ate soooo much Prawn, or shrimp... that's what they call them here, and it was amazing. Funny thing, Fish and Seafood cost a fortune and a half here though the sea is right in front of me... guess that's what commercialization has done. Nothing is cheap here. Nothing. Except for this nice yogurt that I found in our local supermarket, it only costs like 35p. Really nice for breakfast :)

Anyway, all is well for the most part. We're gonna go try to make the most of this week and save a few perishing souls along the way. Cheers

Elder Bradley Smith :)

Two Transfer Blockbuster

Well I've managed to avoid getting moved away from my favourite area, so I've managed to secure myself six more weeks here.

Well, things are moving quickly for us. Matthew was baptized this Sunday and guess what, the font boiler was broken... what a surprise. This always happens at all of my baptisms, something always decides to brake about 24 hours before the baptism. Well Mathew and Dorothy didn't mind the cold water... to much. We boiled about 30 gallons of water in a massive pot on the church stove, which took about 2 hours and didn't make a blinking bit of difference. But at least we tried.

So I'm really happy with what has been going on here. Last week I met another cool guy, his name is Chris. He's the same age as Mathew, 25, and he's been around the block in his life. He's been into drugs and alcohol since he was young and nearly died a year or so back. Since then he decided to clean up his act, and I accidently bumped into him in the town center as we were passing through. Through his past experiences, he now believes there is something more in life which he believe God saved him from dying. So he's been more than happy to listen to our message and he attended Church this sunday and saw our baptisms there.

As for me, I'm just glad I didn't have to pack my bag this week. I'd be really disappointed if I had to leave. It'll be good to see people progressing still here. My companion and I get along pretty well. Obviously we are not perfect, and we get our times when we clash a bit, but who doesn't? I think one of the best things we've been able to do is plan. We have the next three days here booked, so I'm glad that there is always something to do here. Never bored. I guess that probably why the last six weeks felt like one week. Well I hope all you people out there are doing well. Have a great week :)

Love, 

Elder Bradley Smith

Possible Last Week in Paradise (Hope Not)

Well, it is still possible. We've managed to beat our old record of two weeks ago. We managed to pull of 38 lessons this week. Man I've almost caught up to my old man Elder Hansen when he was in Watford. Yes John, I know you had some epic weeks there, but this week will be 40 or nothing!

Well we have two baptisms this coming Sunday. Matthew, my good friend here, is ready to pass his interview this coming Thursday so everything is looking pretty good for his baptism this Sunday. We also have my recent convert's daughter Dorothy being baptized the same day as well. So we are way happy for them :)

Funny thing happening in Southend. Out of most people coming to our member present appointments, we've had mostly recent converts and a few less actives. Man, our recent converts here are so fired up! Its awesome to see them so engaged in the gospel and just helping others to come to the same happiness :) Great stuff happening here.

Well I'm going to enjoy the sunshine today. We are going to pop down to the riverside and enjoy some fresh air, get revitalized and go hit our 40 lesson mark this week. Gonna be awesome. I really appreciate all the support I get from you my friends. It means a lot to me and I hope that I'll be able to see you all soon. I pray for all of you and your success.

Love,

Elder Bradley Smith

As for the title of the email, only one week left in this transfer... I hope president doesn't decide to make me a zone leader or something, things are going to well here for me to leave :)

Breezy Newz

Well fancy this, it rained on us again last night. Problem was I was only wearing a suit because the weather was gorgeous for the most part yesterday. After our last appointment in the evening we got out to a flipping hurricane and we had to walk about two miles home. Probably my least favourite experience in this area... but we've had loads of success this week though :)

So we've managed to pull of 36 lessons this week! My Mission record so far! We've managed to have over 11 member present lessons. We are pretty much best area in the mission as of right now. We have 3 people ready for baptism this next two weeks. We are working with a few others as well, we are definitely doing well :)

Well my good friend Matthew is going to be getting baptized on the 16th of March. So Awesome :) I can't believe this is already the fifth week of the transfer, this transfer is over in two weeks. Crazy how time is starting to pass really quickly over here. Plus it's already March! All the trees are in bloom over here, its seems we've had a early spring which could be kind of deceiving because it could get really cold here again in a few weeks... I guess that happens all the time in Utah though. 

Well I'm gonna try to catch up on some sleep here because we have been workin our butts off here. You never want to be caught on your mission with a poor area because you didn't work hard enough, work your butt off. Actually I thought I heard Arnold Schwarzenegger say something similar to that. Good man. But yeah, it feels really good to be old in my mission. All the other missionaries are younger than me, and always seem to ask my opinion on something. Super funny. I pretty much think to myself, you aren't any better than me as long as you have the spirit because then there is no difference between the ways that we teach. In essence it doesn't even matter what we say as long as the spirit it present because it will testify to what you are teaching. Silver Bullet there. The Key is to build up your understanding of how the spirit works, then you will become Master Teacher. That is my key tip of the week.

Well I've managed to find my pace here in South End, I'm sorry for the lack of pictures this week because I left my card reader at the flat :P Genius I know, I'll get those to you next time. Dun worry I still look the same, no magical hair cuts or anything.

Well Love you all take care and may God bless you.

Elder Bradley Smith

PS Yeah I got your post just right before I came to email. I remember you said you amazon me a box of stuff. I can imagine though that you have been really worried about Mark. I sent him a massive email last week on my thoughts to overcome the first few months of missionary work. I can't really imagine what it is like for him. He's in such a different place compared to me. I do pray for him though. He's a good kid. He's gonna come back way different though.

I love you guys, thanks for taking care of me. Its been really good here in South End and it is easily my favourite area so far. I think every area you change to can become the new best area. You get to start over ever few months and see if you can do better.

Well I'll catch you guys in a bit.