A Little From His Letter

Hello everyone! I just got a letter from our Elder yesterday. There were just some things in it that I was so impressed by and I thought I would share them with you to help you all see just how much he has already grown...

"The atonement means so much to me Sarah, It is so awesome that there is at least one person and the one person that means the most in this world knows exactly how we feel. and being able to always repent for sins that we have is also so awesome. This church really is perfect Its really the true church. how blessed we are to have such great parents that we were able to be born into families like ours. also how blessed we are to live in America? where no matter what we want to do with our life we can with all the hard work anything is possible really. it just takes work. I look at the people here and honestly there is a distinct difference from the members then from the other people. The members are always so excited and happy but everyone else is just going living life with no real direction and it makes me so sad. So we go up to talk to them and they want nothing to do with us and it makes me sad because I know the happiness... Real happyness that it can bring their lives. but they are to hard hearted to listen. it really makes me sad. I just wanna shake them and yell at them some how get it in their heads. but that is impossible. and then the people that do listen to us really are only trying to be nice and thats even worse because it gets our hopes up then when they don't open their door later but you know they are there, it just makes you feel twice as bad. its true what they say. the mission is full of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows ive ever felt and ive only been here 2 weeks and ive already felt that. This mission will be full of them though. :)"

"I just want you to know I have a testimony of this church. I know that it changes lives. I know in just the last 2 months it has totally changed my life. Im such a different person then I was. I feel like such a better person I guess you could say. Sarah I know that god answers prayers with small simple tender mercys. like last night I was laying on my creeky bunk bed and It was really hot and I thought I'd test my faith and I just said a small prayer in my head please help me to fall asleep and all of a sudden a cool breeze came in and it cooled down and I was out cold. I know god helps us through little things. Some times big things but mostly little things. last night there was the nicest lady that got baptized before I got here and we visited her many times and taught her and she expressed to me how she felt like god has forgotten her. and how her faith in god was less. it made me genuinely sad. So I told her about how my first week here was so dark. and how I felt so alone Because of all these things. The language of the people. and I was able to Bear testimony about prayer and with prayer how I was able to make it through. and I assured her god hadn't forgotten her."

I am so happy for him and so proud of the progress he is making. I agree with him when he said that he is becoming a better person already (not that he wasn't already a really great person before). Hope you all enjoyed!

Sarah

Photos from Ecuador -September 12 letter

We don't get a lot of info about the photos so I'll do my best trying to figure it out and mom can pop on and clarify if she knows anything.
Who is this little guy and how old is he? I'd guess 11 except he is wearing a tag!I am thinking maybe this is in Ecuador at the mission home or maybe still at the MTC. I don't know. Look at those big guys and those tiny women.
This photo just made me and the kids crack up. These big guys and this tiny little elder. He looks younger than Jaiden!


Ecuador temple I think
New comp at the Ecuador temple?
The Church is true everywhere in the world...awesome!
The new comp and the less than flattering pose by Elder Profaizer...hope that hair grows out soon!
Hmmmmm, something fishy about this bulletin board. One tiny little picture of the family and TWO of Sarah! We love Sarah so we will let this slide! At least Jesus is a big picture. LOL.
He said he saw this photo in the airport. Glad to know we haven't totally lost "our" Matthew. He's still in there daydreaming about his own shop someday and his fancy wheels.

September 12, 2011

Well hello everybody it's 3 weeks now and this week had been fantastic!!!!!!!!!! No baptisms yet wow see how i spelled that? Spanish is messing me up bad. Anyway, none yet but I think the streak has ended. We have some golden people this week:) I had my first "feeling" home. We were walking past a house at 8 at night after a long day of absolutely nothing and I looked up from the ground and I looked at this house and I just felt something but I didn't recognize it so I kept walking. I looked at this truck and usually I look at a car and find a flaw in the paint or something but instead the thought came back to me and I just said to myself, "well its worth a try" pretty much, so I grabbed Elder Retuerto and we went back. I yelled "haver!!!!" because that's what you do here because you can't knock on the door because it's a steal gate then 10 ft behind that's the real door and the lady came to the window and says "diga mi" that means "what do you want?" And we talked and she came out and listened to us for an hour till we had to go because of the time and the reglas ...(rules) and she was so interested she recognized the Book of Mormon and wanted to read more then every verse we would ask her to and then her Husband came home..... usually a bad sigh because husbands don't like us much. But he came out and also talked with us and was interested. Also they are married which is soooo very rare down here everyone just lives together or just the mom and a bunch of kids. But we taught them yesterday and it went so well. I was able to bear testimony of the B of M and say that when I got my answer it wasn't a huge "ITS TRUE" kinda deal. It was just a peaceful feeling of happiness and calmness. Anyway they are very interested and well see where it goes. We also have another lady who is a member but is inactive but has a 13 year old daughter and the lady wants her daughter to be baptized and the daughter wants it also:) So I'm praying that all works out also!!:) Mom it's all good, I would like letters in the mail also emails i don't care:) Letters in the mail are just really expensive and take along time. I'm only sending letters to Sarah by mail because I'm not using the email option. I know that if I follow that rule God will bless me so much and if I follow that rule I know the right thing will happen with us when the time is right because nothing bad comes from following the rules I've decided. It's a little inconvenient but oh the blessings we will all receive! Tell Briley Happy Birthday for me:) Guys I'm so happy that you are sending me pictures of your adventures. At first they kinda made me a little home sick but now they just make me happy:) I'm so happy here. I get down at times and totally zone off from the world (which is easy to do in a world of Spanish) and I think about worldly stuff like the GTO I wanna get or home or carpet or hot water. And I've come to find it only makes the time slower so when I feel like that I just gotta do something to make me happy. Like by pan for my comp or something. Pan is bread and here its like 30 cents for a really good role thing with caramel on it mmmm:) I love it:) It's a real treat when I'm hungry or down:) Oh also when you send the package don't forget the green sticker:) There was an elder who had to pay like 20 bucks to get a little package outta customs. I have also learned so much Spanish this week. The more I learn the faster I learn because the words don't just run together- well not all of them, and I'm able to pick out words and look them up in my dictionary or ask my comp. Speaking of my comp, I am so very blessed to have him. He's so into the work yet hes not a crazy guy, he's so patient with me and realizes it takes 5 times saying something for me to get it. We are forming inside jokes with time which is making us become friends more then comps now. He's really great and doesn't take advantage of me being a dumb greeny, he actually teaches me. I've learned the specialness of personal study every morning. It's one of my favorite times. I'm always learning something that I need for the day and I feel closer and closer to the Lord daily. How blessed we are to have this gospel in our lives. I want people to just have it so bad so they can be happy and it makes me really sad when they won't give it a chance. I'm sorry I didn't say much last week. I'm writing more this week to make up for it and its easier this week to write because of having more good news to talk about:) Well I'm going to attempt to bear my testimony in Spanish please note I'm not sure of all the words or how to spell them.
yo se que esta evangelio is veredero. el libro de mormón es la palabra de dios. yo se dios ayúdanos todos días de nuestros vidas. también mediante fe y orar nosotros puedo recibir pace, amor, gozo, y felicidad en nuestro corazones. yo tango un testimonio de obra misional. obra misional es la obra de dios y misionarios recibir seguidero solo durante nosotros seguemos la reglas de la misión.
I know that this Gospel is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know god helps us every single day of our lives. Also through faith and prayer we can receive peace, love, joy, and happiness in our hearts. I have a testimony of missionary work. Missionary work is the work of God and missionaries receive safety only when we follow the mission rules.
It's a little short and I could say more but it's hard to translate it all for me haha and it takes along time. I love you all soooooo much!!! Thank you so much for your support. I Love you too Sarah Bradshaw!!!! :) You have letters in the mail I promise I send one every monday:) Love you all!!! Love Elder Profaizer!!

September 5, 2011

Hello my family 3000 miles away how are all of you? Gotta say, I loved the pics of the cabin- made me so happy to see everything:) So so happy:) I love you all so much:) Dad thank you so much for the story of football. It brought me to tears that means so much to me really. I'm not throwing in the towel. I got everything I need to stay strong and that's the Lord. I have been on my knees more then I've ever been in my whole life and it is such a help. Well the language is hard and everything but I gotta say I am learning quickly. I haven't heard English in forever and I'm learning to function without it I guess you could say, although it is very frustrating at times. But I am learning. The Pres. has asked we only email family and I wanna obey with exactness. Oh, on with my week. Well the first was a little slow but its ok, it went faster as the days went on. between 2 and 6 are the longest parts of my day becauwe it just keeps getting hotter every day haha. But after 6 it starts to cool off a little bit. Well no baptisms yet, it's so frustrating cuz we are working so hard on these 3 people and they are really tough. One we never can get a hold of. The other is a 13 year old girl and she barely talks and wont tell us what she's thinking and the other we cant get a hold of either. AHHHH, oh well this week we will get em:) So there is this lady and she is so nice and she speaks a little English and she has basically adopted me, she thinks so at least. She just barely got baptized before I got there and we go to teach her and she is so good and she also gives us food sometimes which is such a blessing:) She fed us burgers the other night and wow they were good, it reminded me a little of home:) Not quite as good as the Pie Dump. I hope I got Pie Dump waiting for me when I get home in a couple years haha. Anyway this week is good. I hope you all had fun at the cabin. Again be grateful for America and American laws and cars. The cars here are junk and a half and just such crap haha. It's fun to watch people. There was a guy showing off for his girl on his motorcycle and realize these motorcycles are also crap. Little 125s but that's besides the fact he was just revving over and over and over and he hit the clutch and about killed it and when he took off I probably would have beat it if i was running, lol, it was funny. I find humor in stupid stuff here. Everyone, I love you so much thank you for everything you do for me and you're awesome support. I love you all so much:):) Love Elder Profaizer!!!:)

Be Grateful Too

I was also complaining to Matthew last week about our AC and how it's been on the blitz lately. The lines keep freezing up and apparently we just needed to change the filter LOL. Anyway, this was his unsympathetic response:

Hey Jen:) Well I'm sorry to hear about your AC, haha not really;) You just be happy you have that and hot water haha. It is hot here and humid and no AC. LOL. Tell josh to stick it out, the mission is great. The first morning you wake up you consider going home so very highly, like more then ever. But get on your knees and put your trust in the Lord and you will have a great day. I am in the Huancavilca Ward, not sure anything else. Tell Michale that this is the best place ever and that I am still praying for him. Jen, I appreciate your letters so much. Thanks for your support. You have been such a strength to me. I love you so much. Tell the kids I miss them and love them so much also. Thank you for always being there for me and letting me come to your house whenever and putting up with your idiot brother haha. You're really great:) I love you so much:) Oh and thanks for telling Sarah about my bowel movements haha. I love you lots:) Love Elder Profaizer:)

Photos from August 29 letter

I don't know much about any of these photos but I think some of from the MTC in Peru and others are after shortly arriving in Ecuador.
A beautiful temple...Peru temple maybe?
Peru MTC
MTC
MTC
Look at all the Gringos!
Not even going to ask about this one ha ha ha.
Looks like an airplane maybe?
Leaving for Ecuador- what is with the dude in the coat? Yikes!
Ready to go serve in Ecuador! Go Elder Profaizer!

August 29, 2011

Hello everyone in America!!!!!!!!!! Well this is it, I'm in Ecuador and I don't know what to think but i kinda like it haha. The people here are so amazing. The first couple days were really hard. But I'm learning Spanish so fast, well in comparison to before, but it's still good. I only understand about 10% of whats going on haha. Oh well. So everyday at 1 we have dinner at a members house and yesterday I had to eat frog- just kidding, just kidding. I really didn't haha. To tell you the truth, I really like the food here. The rice is good, the meat is good. Some weird tasting soup but i eat every last bit of everything. The mammitas here are amazing. I love them and this one household full of all ladies 3 older ladies and 2 little girsl and they are so nice wow. They were just baptized before I got there and so we go and visit with and teach them and they invited us for dinner twice now and I helped cook haha. I taught them how to make scrambled eggs lol. They have never seen that before and they liked it. I don't know guys, I may come back with a few pounds on me if I keep eating this much. We get $160 dollars a month which is actually a lot. More than I budget for. That way I can save up and hopefully come home with a grand or so in money I didn't spend. That way it can be used for something special someday;) It's so fun to walk down the street and any old guy who knows a little English will yell out "hello my brother!!!!" haha (imagine that with a Spanish accent.) It's fun. Anyways I made a list of stuff to tell you about. First there are guys who ride round the streets and sell bananas for 5 cents haha. Every time I tell people where I'm from (Utah) they go "ohhh the factory." Haha I guess they get a lot of Utah missionaries here. Oh ok before I forget my address is

Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission
Casilla 09-06-286
Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador

NOTE:::: IF YOU SEND PACKAGES MAKE SURE THE POST OFFICE PUTS A GREEN STICKER on it. Not a white one. That way the mission home can pick it up for me and I don't have to go to customs, also no more then 5lbs, and no more then one a month (because they start to question so they pull it out and I have to go get it, make sure everyone in the fam and Sarah knows this so talk with everyone so there aren't problems.) The mission Pres. stressed this very much. Thanks guys:)

Well my apartment is something, haha. No hot water, no carpet, one creaky bunk bed. Ya it's something haha. Oh well, it's home now for a while:) I'm in the middle of a city about 30 miles south of the temple but I don't get to go there. When I first arrived we did two sessions in the temple and wow that temple is so magnificent. I can't get over the beauty. It's so awesome, I love it so much. The inside is amazing. I love you all so much. I gotta tell you, thoughts of quitting passed through my mind a few times and still do in the mornings but when I get out and go I am good. I have a sticky note up, actually I have have a lot up with motivational phrases and Spanish vocab but the one that keeps me going is "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it." That keeps me going, it really helps so much. I love you all so much so so so so so so so much. I love you guys. Make sure to forward this letter to Sarah also thanks:) Thank you everyone for being such a huge support to me, I love u all so much:) Pray for me everyone- pray pray pray. I need as much help as I can get!!! I pray for all you guys every day, I hope it helps:) I love you!!:) Love Elder Gringo Profaizer!

Be Grateful!

I was complaining about the idiots who installed the wrong carpet and now have to replace it!  This was Matthew's response:

dear tam  
 i realise how stressful the whole house thing could be but i feel the impression to tell you about the houses here and maybe yourll feel a little better:) first of they all have big gates areounbd them so ppl dont break in then when u get past that gate there is another door with 2 locks then when u get inside there is cement floors. no carpet anywhere. and then a wood or plastic table with plastic chairs of wood ones that have been just pieced together. be greatful for everything that u have been givin in the usa be greatful the parks your children play in are not cover in dog crap. be greatful u have carpet at all and hot water. i have 0 hot water everynight for a shower. i wish everyone could see this place u would be greatful for everything u are blessed with in the united states. i love u so much tam:) thank you for the letter:) keep writing me:)

So glad to be in the US!!!

Mom's Thoughts

Today is the big day. Matthew left the Peru MTC at 5:45 this morning, August 23, 2011, for Ecuador. This is the destination he has been working towards all of his life. Even as a little boy in Primary as he sang, I Hope They Call Me on a Mission, this was the day he was singing about. The MTC has been a marvelous experience with lots of gospel study, missionary training, and most of all, learning to feel the spirit of the Lord. Matthew has experienced all of these things and has seen and felt the Lord's hand as he has struggled to learn Spanish. He has learned that there is no way to study the Book of Mormon without reading. Matthew has learned that the Lord really does love us and he is concerned and helps us even without us being aware. This young man is a focused, hard working, self sufficient young man but he also knows how to get down on his knees and ask for help daily. He has asked for father's blessings many times in his life and he has seen the answers fulfilled in those blessings. One of those blessings was the night before he left for the MTC on June 21. This blessing told him that he would be a great missionary and to work hard and put his trust in the Lord. The Lord told him, through this blessing, that he loved him and that he was pleased with the choices he had made in his life. I, as his mother, am also very pleased with the choices he has made. I love each of my beautiful daughters and am so proud of the accomplishments they have made in their lives and the way they are living. Matthew, as my only living son, is a bright shining joy as he has chosen to heed the Lord's call and serve. Go Forth and Serve my faithful son. Our prayers and love are with you every minute of every day.