Romford Days

Hey,

I've been having a lot of fun in this place. We actually get Travel Money :)! So pretty much every day we just take the buses everywhere we need to go in Romford. Apparently Romford has the best bus system in all of England. All the buses are on time and quite frequent, I've really been impressed with the public transportation in this country. Really, really,  good. So I was a bit stressed at first when I had to shove everything in my bags... and move my whole life to Romford. That wasn't too easy. I used vacuum pack bags to fit most of my stuff, and I'll show you some fun photos of what that was like :P My new companion is from Brazil. I really thought sometime on my mission I was going to get a Brazilian. Just my luck :P Just kidding, He's a great kid. Only been out for 6 weeks, so taking over the area and not knowing anything hasn't really helped me out to much :P So its been a huge learning curve for the past few days. I'm enjoying the nicer weather for the past few days. Sunshine has been out, and I'm getting sunburned again, what a relief. It’s better than getting wet :P So I feel I'm finally getting the hang of the area, so I'm not quite so stressed anymore. My companion has been feeling quite ill this week though because he caught some cold or something and it’s just making him feel tired and headaches all the time, but I'm 100% healthy. The only thing that Elder Oliveira doesn't like is that he thinks he isn't working hard enough. So he's in this cycle of feeling sick, yet he wants to work harder so he's stressing himself out. So I've been trying to help him calm down, and just relax a little. Apparently his trainer was just a machine, and just was WORK, WORK,WORK. The kid never had a break, so now that I'm trying to learn everything and catch up, my companion is stressing out that we are not doing as much work as we could. And I promise you we are not lazy. I've literally hit my pillow and I'm out every single night this week. So it’s been a long week. It’s interesting to see that Mark has graduated. He got my same GPA LOL. 3.94, Yep, I think I was something close to that, I may be wrong. At least Mark gets to live in a super posh place. New Heritage is really nice. I think I'll just live from home when I get back, you know... save money and stuff... but you guys probably will want me to move out anyway :P but you don't have to worry about that for 14 months or so. I can't really believe that is June already. I remember just a while back when it was freezing January and wondering when summer was going to come. Interesting how time flies, yet some days feel so slow...Yet the time passes by very quickly. I'm betting this transfer is going to go by very quickly. Romford is a huge place, one of the biggest areas in the mission. And we have to cover it all by bus :P So it’s going to be fun. Plus I like being the senior companion. Let’s you have a little flexibility if you know what I mean. I think everything is going to be just fine here. We have an enormous mall that has literally every kind of shop that you can think of... so we are going to go exploring today and have a bit of fun. I didn't get to many photos this week, so I'll get some more and share them with you next week. I always seem to be making this promise :P I hope you guys have had a good week. Hey, 151A North Street, Romford Essex RM1 1ED. That is our flat Address in Romford, just so you can send me post and stuff. If you could send me a letter so I could have something to show the library so I can get a card that would be great. 

Love,

Elder Bradley Smith

T.J.Eckleburge to the Rescue and $450...

Well its rainy again, no surprises there...

but this week has disappeared again, just like all the others. I'm really nervous now. I got my call yesterday... and you can guess where I'm going. I'm going back to ESSEX! Sweet land of the Chav's (kinda like English gangsters). So I'm going to the city called Romford... but I don't know the flat address yet, so I'll get that to you as soon as possible. I'll be follow up training a younger Elder named Elder Ollivera... or something like that. He's been out for about 6 weeks... so he's really young. I'm just a bit nervous about being the senior companion since this is obviously my first time. I'm not really sure how to handle it... but I guess I just have to take it as it comes. So I'm leaving my good German friend Elder Wolf, and he's probably going to die here in Luton (he'll finish his mission here). So many of my good friends go home tomorrow. One lives really close to us. Elder Fisher is from Lehi, and he gets his plane flight home tomorrow. He's been my zone leader for 6 months and we've gotten to know each other quite well. I'll be sending emails to him, so you guys can help him find a new girlfriend or something :P He's a really cool guy. Elder Affleck my previous compadre, goes home this next transfer, so middle of July. Everyone I know is just getting so Old! There all going to be gone here :P Besides all my friends disappearing, I'll get the chance to make more. Plus I took some awesome photos this week for you guys, you can enjoy my new nerd face... but I actually really like my glasses :) I guess that is what we were going for :P Not to bad, except when it rains than the get all fogged up and stuff... but thats just life. Its good to hear that everyone is still alive in our family, Mark hasn't killed anyone yet (lol). I'm jealous you guys get to go on Holidays. The closest thing I get is P-day for 12 hours and thats about it. Then its back to work. I'm curious as to why Shannon is going to Timpanogos. I'm guessing all of her friends are over there. Well all know that Vikings Rule still :) So tomorrow is a big day, I have to spend my time packing here today, and visiting all my friends here before I leave. I think its good that I'm going. I've spent way too long here in this area. To many people know my face. So Romford will be exciting. I'll send you guys pictures of my new companion and the area, and we'll see if it rivals Luton in Dodginess.

Love,

Elder Bradley Smith

Happy Mother's Day

Hey so I'm trying to upload the photos I have, because I used our DVD player to rip them to my flash drive... interesting process but I tried it out last night, but the stupid browser on this computer isn't working... so I can't get the upload files button to work. In other words I click on the upload button and nothing happens. So I don't know if its just these computers are so old and running and ancient version of Internet Explorer or if I just got the stupid computer out of the whole library... not sure which. Probably both. Anyway... If you send me that card reader that would be wonderful :) So I guess we already talked everything out yesterday, so I'll just tell you the plans for today. Elder Wolf and I get to enjoy Sunny Luton again, so I'll pop into a place called Specsavers to check out some glasses... Its been recommended by our ward members, so we'll see how that is. We also have our washing machine coming today, so we'll have to hang around the flat while they put the new one in... I'm on my last pair of unused clothing... so I'm just in luck. We also had our flat inspection this morning by our lovely Senior couple the Sanchez's I told you a little bit about yesterday. Good people. We are missing a few things like drawers and stuff so they are going to get those things sorted out... which will be nice. Besides that its the regular shopping and enjoying the day kind of day. Nothing to special happening. I hope you guys have a good day planned out. Its going to be a long time before we can talk again. Its the great fast. About 7 months. So Christmas time :P Thats going to be a long time. But I guess I'm used to this now, so no need to worry. Tell the family I love them, since they all dissappeared before I was done with the call last night :P Anyway I'll talk to you guys later, and I'll send you photos with the new glasses... I might be a bit picky about which ones I get because I don't want to look stupid. Yeah, I remember when I was in fifth grade and I wore them for a little bit... those didn't last long :P Anyway good day and good luck with mark and the end of school coming up.

Love,

Elder Bradley Smith

Ps

I guess I'm sending photos like this for just a little bit

What? Ducks?

It’s about time the temperature has been warming up around here. I've been looking forward to enjoying some warmer weather finally. I could actually take off my jacket this week and just wear a regular suit coat. I feel so FREE! So anyway, it’s been a really good week so far... Just most of our investigators are really hosey, so our appointments have been sporadic to say the least. I have been getting along really well with Elder Wolf. He's just pure genius on a lot of different things. As I probably told you previously, he loves to study. So he has been giving me a lot of insights into many different doctrines of the church when studying the bible and Doctrine and Covenants. So many cool things to be learned from there. So I have really enjoyed working and learning from him. He is also one of the best Bible Bashers in the mission... not that he is proud of it. He doesn't look for bashes, bashes just come to him and he has to confound false doctrine. We had an interesting lesson with an Evangelical Christian the other day where this guy named Mark was trying to say that we are not saved by works but by Grace. So we had a nice discussion where we absolutely destroyed him doctrinally, and eventually we just had to tell him he was not being open minded enough to hear our message and that he was just wasting our time. I actually enjoyed that experience, even though we probably won't be teaching him again... but it was still funny. Besides that it has been a lot of street contacting this week, as well has spending a lot of hours trying to find less active families in our ward that have been gone for more than ten years... Yeck... these records are so out of date. I realize what a pain it is for the church when people move and don't give an address to where they went. Doesn't help the missionaries who have to go hunt down there old place and see which new black family has moved in. That was mostly a joke because every single family we have gone to see that has left Luton a new black family has moved in... talk about cultural diversity :P So things are not so bad, just the same really. The things I'm looking forward to the most is the end of May... and you can probably guess what is going on there :) Elder Wolf and I are gonna have a sweet birthday party conjoined. Since P-day is in between our birthday's we'll probably do a big party then or go to London or something fun :) We are still deciding. Also I believe Mother's Day is the 12 of May, so we are working on scoping out a place to Skype you guys from. We might hit the Hart's again, so we will have to see. Funny that I'm still in the same place since I last Skyped you guys back home. I guess I'm just blessed to stay in this town for a quarter of my mission. Man my companion, goes home in 4 months. All of my companions I've had will be home by August. So I guess I get to learn from the best. Anyway its been a good week. I'll think of a good birthday present for Dad tomorrow. I don't know what I can do.... Many I can send a funny picture or something :P Only problem is I haven't gotten around to buying a camera card reader >_< So I can't really get anything off my camera yet... sorry >_< I know it’s been a few weeks, but Elder Wolf doesn't have a card reader, and my direct line cord into the computer cannot read my camera for some reason... Probably because all these computers are way to dumbed down! UIGGGGGg. I hate that so bad. Well anyway, I'll go look for one today in the mall next door since I have time to do that. Last p day we went to St. Albans so I never had time... So I'll talk to you guys next week and see if I can send some stuff through when I do the progress record on Thursday.

Love, 

Elder Bradley J. Smith

PS   Ok, I just saw mark’s video with the Ducks... Are you guys actually keeping those animals? Lol. I'm a little confused on several things... first I thought mark wasn't dating Elise anymore... but I guess that was just false pretenses... But anyway, I think that is funny that you lose the chickens and then you get ducks :P You'll have to tell me more about that,  people :)

Cheers, 

Elder Smith

"Must Buy Card Reader!"

Hey family,

I hope you are all doing well. Seems like spring has just barely started to spring up around here. The weather is still wet, but the temperature has improved... so, I'm not always wearing my large jacket anymore :) about time. This past week has been interesting. My new German companion, Elder Wolf, it’s not actually spelled with an “E”... didn't know that before I met him, is pretty cool. He's not quite as talkative as Elder Jamieson, but he's very knowledgeable. He knows his scriptures very well and he loves his study time. He also has a great sense of good humor. He is a very sensible person as well. This describes him... He is a gentleman if you treat him nicely, and he can turn sour if you are not. So far, I've been on the good side and he's really cool. I've had no problems at all with him. He has a very soft German accent that comes from the north... so nothing harsh that you are probably thinking of. I've been having a great time so far.

Unfortunately... we don't have a card reader yet... I've been borrowing all of my companion's card readers... so I can't upload photos or videos this time.  I'm going to the store today to buy one so I can continue to send you cool stuff. Sorry mom... I haven't been too good in the past few weeks. Things have been a little hectic. I'm just trying to sort things out.

So far there are a ton of new missionaries here. Just loads have moved in. I'm surprised I wasn't called to train this past transfer... but it’s probably bound to happen sometime soon.  I'm privilegded to learn from a very old missionary. Elder Wolf has been out for almost 21 months, so he's dead soon :P All my companions have been quite old. Elder Hansen, Elder Affleck, and Elder Wolf have all been out for over 20 months now. Elder Jamieson was on the younger side with almost 15 months... but they have all been out twice as long as I have. Everything is going well. The flat is all nice and clean. We worked really hard on that. We are probably going to hang out in St. Albans today and hang out with our Zone leaders and the new senior missionary couple the Sanchez's.

I hope things are going alright with you guys. I get to call you this Mother’s day soon :) So that is coming up. Plus it’s a double Birthday this transfer. Elder Wolf and I both have birthdays in the same week almost. Mine is Friday the 17th and his is the 22nd of May. So we are going to have a missionary party like you've never seen... or will ever see... because you guys aren't in England :P But I will take pictures don't worry. Anyway I love you guys and I'll get those pics and videos to you soon.

Love, 

Elder Bradley Smith

"Ooo La, La" Good Food (That's French Isn't It?)

Alright, I finally have a free moment in time!

It’s been a flippin’ fast week.  I remember Monday, that was when I was in

London, so I didn't get a chance to email. Tuesday I had a work over in St. Albans so I didn't get a chance to touch a computer, and yesterday again I was in London for  a Media Training. Elder Allen of the 70 came over to teach us about this huge media campaign going on in London. (Mom you should

look it up. Its way cool :) So, the Church has spent a lot of money on ads covering al of the tube stations in central London.  There are a lot of “I'm a Mormon Ads” all over the place in central London to add to our free advertising from the Book of Mormon Musical. The popularity of the Church is getting growing here.

 I spent 5 hours in meetings yesterday with General Authorities which was pretty cool... except after the fourth hour they were just talking about not very important stuff so they were doing my

head in...I had such a big head ache after that meeting because they didn't

give us any breaks and we all needed the bathroom and everyone was hungry.

They didn't even feed us or anything >:P

So we pretty much didn't get any work done yesterday because they kept us in the whole time. So we got back at 8:30 and went out to a new favorite place in Luton, the Toby Carvery. Such a glorious place to eat. Toby is a restaurant that does English Roast for not too expensive... if that grammar makes any sense... so I had a really nice meal last night. Plus its quite health compared to what we eat

normally nowadays :P So not to bad there.

Things have been coasting along... the end of the transfer is already next week... which I'm quite upset about because I love serving with my companion here :( I don't really want to leave, but with all the new missionaries coming in I'll probably be training or something... so next Monday we get the Moves Calls which everyone dreads so it will be interesting. That also means P-day will be Tuesday instead of Monday but I bet you guys are used to me telling that.

The weather has been quite nice for about 2 days, but now it’s gone back to the spring rain showers routine.  No surprises there—This is LondonJ  But I hope you guys are doing well, I hope Grandpa Hillyard is doing OK, tell him I'm praying for him. I'll send you guys some good pictures and a video.

Love,

Elder Bradley Smith

Speedier than a Flying...hummmm...WEEK...Yes! that's it.

Oh Hi Theerrreee,

     So another fast week gone by. I don't know where the time has gone. Today was finally a slower p-day. We've spent the past 3 weeks in London every week because my companion is part of a missionary choir that our mission president is putting together. So I'm really glad things have slowed down for a day and I've just been able to relax and unwind for the past few hours. Our missionary work has been going quite well. We've had four new investigators this week which has been crazy compared the past few months here in this city. I think this is probably owed to our attitudes. I love working really well with Elder Jamieson. He's not as contentious as my previous com-padre. 

     So things have been going quite well. The days seem to go by a lot faster, and its crazy! I just hit 7 months has of two days ago! So cool :) My videos have been more interesting to say the least. Oh, we spent a lot of time in the hospital this past week because my companion had a "special condition" or a abscess on his back. So he had to have it surgically removed. So the first day we went into the NHS walk in office and he was told to go to the hospital that evening so they could just quickly drain it. But things didn't go that smoothly. We got to the hospital around six in the evening and waited for an hour and half for someone to see us. Then when he finally got a bed... we had to wait another 3 hours before anyone came to see us. We were so BORED! We even made a video for you guys in our boredom. So when a doctor finally came to see my companion, he just told us to come back in the morning for a bigger surgery because the abscess was deeper than it looked. 

     So we had to go back again the next morning, so instead I got to hang out with the Dunstable missionaries for a while. Elder Jamieson has been recovering this week. He's not bed ridden or anything, he's just really sore in his back. So he's hanging in there. That was about the most exciting thing that has happened so far :P Well I'm glad you guys get to go for an exciting vacation without me :P I really like Moab, its such a cool place. I hope that goes well for you guys. 

    As for the Grandparents, I hope they can recover well. I'm praying for them, so I hope that helps somewhat. But this transfer has gone by so fast. Elder Jamieson and I only have two and a half weeks left together, or we might have more... we'll have to see what our president Jordan thinks. This was a shorter transfer, only five weeks, so that does kinda cut our time together. Well, I'll have to catch you guys later. I'm going to send the videos tomorrow or something because I keep forgetting to bring my camera card whenever I email >_< . My own stupidity. 

K, I love you guys and hope to hear from you soon. 

Love, 

Elder Bradley Smith