All packages should go to this address and not the one listed.  I cannot change the one to the side.  She will probably not get any packages sent into the country.

 

AP-000914

Sister Elyse Marie Bradley

Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission

8532 NW 66th St.

Miami, FL 33166

Family Dearest,

 

Bienvenidos! Actually, I don't know if that's a proper salutation or not. Clearly I'm still learning lol. So how is everyone? I hope fantastic, because the gospel is true and life is good! I was so happy to finally hear from Sister Marchant through the email chain. I love hearing about the work moving forward in Korea. I wish I could read all of my missionary friends emails..but alas no time. Amanda Bailey also sent me an email - thank you so much! So good to hear from you! You are going to change kids lives in NC and I'm so excited for you! Keep me updated!. Bonnie - thanks for your email as well! So glad to hear the fam is doing well. Give the kids and Mas a hug for me, and tell Becca good luck! As for news from my Jeru friends...I'm a little in the dark. For all I know they have all been translated since my departure, which wouldn't really surprise me. But if you are a Jeru person...or one who considers me a friend, I would sincerely like to know what you are up to. Write me on dearelder...it takes five seconds...ok ok, maybe like 10 minutes. But seriously, I'm in a dry spell for lettters and it's killing me. Maybe the postal service down here just hates me, but I haven't gotten a thing for 2 weeks. I know, wah wah. I'll stop whining now.

 

Anywho, things here in the DR MTC are about the same as they were last week. Haha, really things are great though. Today for service we got to weed the gardens around the temple. Call me crazy, but I think I actually enjoyed it. Just getting out and DOING somethings feels good, even if its humid and I sweat like crazy. Yesterday was another trip to the university where Hermana Peterson and I were able to talk to Francisca, Horace, and Juana. The campus is pretty dead right now because most people are on vacation, but next week it starts up again so that will be nice. My Spanish has progressed enough now that I can usually express myself so people understand me, but my comprehension of natives when they speak is still a struggle. Poco a poco right? Right. Francisca was especially open with us and we were able to share a Book of Mormon. It made me anxious to get out in the field. The MTC is great and all, but I'm getting impatient. yet again I find the Lord teaching me patience. Obviously I don't come by it easily lol. This week I started having parts of my dreams in Spanish...I was pretty excited lol. If only I could sleep more....I've been struggling a little with sleep here. But I think once I get out into the field I will sleep better. I've also been playing lots of ping pong this week. I was excited to finally find an elder that can beat me...gives me something to work towards lol.

 

I continue to count my blessings every day and I am especially grateful for this amazing opportunity to serve the Lord and share His gospel with His children. I am starting to udnerstand what it's like to have that constant companionship of the Spirit...such an amazing gift. The Lord's hand is in each and every one of our lives, every moment of every day, and all we need to do is open our eyes to see it. Bless you all!

 

Love,

Hermana Bradley

August 12, 2010

A Mí Querida Familia,

 

Every week I dread having to sum up my experiences in one brief email to you...but have no fear, because I will prevail! My first week here in the D.R. has been one full of trial and error. As Dickens would say, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. And living within the gated walls of our little MTC is proving to be a challenge for my wandering spirit. I´m only beginning to understand the meaning of how a mission is hard. But at the same time I´m getting just a small taste of how incredibly rewarding this work can be. I know it will only continue harder and better as I go out into the field.

 

So...some experiences to share! I´ll start with a funny one. First, my sweet companion Hermana Peterson is such a trooper with Spanish. She uses what she knows and just gets by with a limited vocab as best she can. She really is amazing and I admire her perseverance. However, the other day as we were talking with an elder from her old district she tried to ask him where his drawings aka dibujas were since he´s big into drawing. But instead she said "Donde esta su bruja?" which means "Where is your witch?" to which he replied "En mi cuarto!" (In my room). Hahaha. I almost died laughing. I love spanish.

 

On a more spiritual note, I had two really amazing experiences this week. First was on Monday where we got to go visit the university and basically meet people as we shared folletos (pamphlets). I'll be honest, I was scared out of my mind to talk to these people in Spanish. But as we started out, my fears became less and less important as I realized that these people desperately needed to hear what I had to say...even if it was a few broken words of Spanish. We ended up having some really neat conversations. However, it instilled an even greater desire in me to learn this language. Poco a poco...I will get it. :-) The other experience I had was last night with our MED teacher Hn. Mediavilla. After my companion and I taught him our lesson both of us expressed some frustrations in not being able to say what we feel in the language. However, he shared a wonderful scripture from Moses about our Heavenly Father's love and sorrow for us. It made me more determined than ever to do this work with all my heart.

 

Today has been pretty exciting as well since we got to go to the temple this morning and then do service this afternoon. The session was in English, much to my dismay, but it was probably better that way. Maybe I'm not ready to tackle that task in Spanish yet. The Santo Domingo temple is beautiful though, and very small...which is almost a nice change I think. Service was exciting as Hna. Peterson and I got to pick up trash between bushes at the university. I now know the full meaning of "noxious weeds"...at least I think that's what they're called.

 

Well I'm running out of time, but basically life is good. I have many things to be grateful for...like delicious food (I love la bandera!), a ping pong table (I have to exercise control daily not to sneak down and play outside of gym time lol), air conditioned buildings, amazing teachers and leaders (Elder Vinas visited us this week!), a great companion, a wonderful district, and of course this wonderful gospel! thank you so much for all of your love, support, and prayers, I wouldn't be able to make it through a day without them! I love you guys!!!!!

 

Love,

Hermana Bradley

Hola Mi Familia!

 

So you get an extra email this week since they allow us to contact you about our safe arrival. I decided not to call you from the airport because I figured it would just make me homesick. Besides, every pay phone in the entire Miami airport was occupied by the poor desperate elders. Just know I love ya'll! Anyways, the trip down was pretty long and tiring, but I think my trip to Jerusalem still takes the cake for most exhausting. Our flights were booked from Salt Lake to Dallas, Dallas to Miami, and Miami to Santo Domingo. I had a really neat experience talking with a man named Ferdinand from the Philippines. I was only able to give a pass along card though because in my desperation to stay underweight for travel I failed to have an extra Book of Mormon with me. Never again! I would have gladly sacrificed anything in my bag to have had one to share...oh well. Next time then.

 

Santo Domingo is beautiful...and hot. We flew in around 7pm at night and when we walked outside it felt like walking into a sauna. I felt so bad for all the elders that kept their suit jackets on. The travel experience as a whole was kind of crazy. Nobody knew where we were supposed to go once we got off the plane and there were so many lines! Tourist cards...money changers....immigration...baggage claim...customs. Although, I suppose it wasn't really that bad compared to security and customs into Israel. I didn't get body searched this time though, what a disapointment. :-) Some of the elders were totally shell-shocked though, wandering around with lost looks on their faces. Poor little boys getting sent into a third world country when they've hardly traveled farther than state boundaries...hahaha. I do feel bad for them though.

 

The MTC here is right on temple grounds and my new companion Hermana Peterson and I have an entire 8 person bedroom to ourselves because we're the only sisters here. If I felt like the minority in Provo, here it's even worse. I'm just glad I have a companion at all. I wasn't really a big fan of being stuck in a threesome with 2 elders for the trip over here. We also have a beautiful view of the temple from our bedroom window...pictures coming forth soon! Today we're jumping into orientation and we've been sufficiently chastised for not "speaking out language" enough. The Spanish here is crazy though! Coming out of the airport I swore they were speaking some form of Chinese and not Spanish. And they mumble alot. I hate mumbling....especially trying to understand Spanish mumbling. I will keep trying though! Anyways, they're telling us to finish up so I better go.

 

Thank you for all your love and prayers! I am safe and sound and loving every minute of being here! My P-Day is thursdays now, so I'll write again then. Oh and here's my new address for the next 6 weeks before I head out into the field...

 

MTC Address:

Hermana Elyse Marie Bradley

Avenida Bolivar 825

Los Robles, Santo Domingo

Domincan Republic

 

Love,

Hermana Bradley

Voy a La Republica Dominicana!

Dear Family & Friends,

 

So in a little less than 24 hours I will be on my way to the beautiful country of the Domincan Republic! I can't wait!!!! Today we went to the temple again and as I walked out I just felt all the silly stress leave me and I realized I don't need to fear about anything, because I have the Lord to back me up. Such a good feeling. I'm especially excited to get there and visit the Santo Domingo temple, which I just learned is right next to the MTC! Dream come true. Although going to the temple and having everyone speak Spanish, that could be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it.

 

This week has been full of ups and downs, like always. But just as Hermana Petty and I were discussing, the lower the lows the higher the highs. There must needs be opposition in all things, and I'm learning that lesson good and well. :-) Something that I've been trying to focus on this week is how to plan better. We've been taught quite a few times on the importance of setting goals and challenging ourselves. I love that quote that says "People rarely change unless invited to do so. " Well I've been invited to change about a million different ways in the past few weeks, and I'm still getting the hang of it. But I think I'm making progress. Hopefully.

 

As for my foot problems, last week proved exciting with a trip off to the podiatrist. Getting out of the MTC was kind of nice...and weird. Being in Provo where I've lived for the past 5 years of my life while having a black badge on felt stranger than I thought it would. Suddenly I was out around real people and yeah...it was strange. Anyways, the podiatrist said I had a pre-existing condition in my foot where a bone in the back of my heel protrudes slightly, which was agitated by my new shoes. Because of this, my heel started to swell a little and now is pinching my achilles tendon. Luckily he said it wasn't that serious and just gave me some inserts for my shoes so that it doesn't pinch the tendon. I've been wearing for almost a week now and they work well in every pair of shoes except one. Plus I'll get to wear sandals once I get to the D.R. So...todo bien.

 

Another thing I've been reminded of A LOT this week....well every week really, is that I can't do this. At least not by myself. Everytime I try to speak spanish, share a lesson, or even bear my testimony, I fail miserably if I simply rely on my own knowledge and ability. The Lord has supported me so much these past few weeks, and yet I still seem to forget on a daily basis that it's HIM that's doing all of this, not me. But just like everything else, I'm still learning.

 

Yesterday Hma Petty and I taught our first lesson in Spanish. It was crazy! I was saying things in Spanish I didn't even know I could say! Suddenly Spanish makes sense and I can just string the words together to makes sentences that are actually understandable. I don't think I ever really understood what the gift of tongues was until I got here, but I sure do now! It's amazing to be sitting there thinking things in your head in English and then have them come out of your mouth in another language! I feel blessed to have that experience and just hope that as I continue to study and put faith in the Lord, He will bless me.

 

I'm so happy to be out here serving a mission and I am learning new things about this gospel, the Lord, and myself each and every day. I know now more than ever that this is where I'm supposed to be and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm grateful to have so many incredible people in my life that love and support me. I feel the support of your prayers constantly, so thank you! So long for now, and the next email you get will be coming from the Caribbean!

 

Love,

Hermana Bradley

The Clock is Ticking!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Oh man does this email countdown thing stress me out! So if I don't type out sensible things, I apologize, I'm racing against the clock. Anywho, week two at the MTC was just as amazing and full of learning as the first. My head just might explode, but in a good way. I've found that the hard days are usually the ones I learn the most, and they're always followed by a good and encouraging day. The Lord knows what he's doing. It's incredible how much the Lord can bless you when you're putting your faith and trust in Him above all else. His blessings never cease to amaze me.

 

First of all, can I just say that I LOVE my companion? Because I do. Hermana Petty and I were definitely meant to be together for these first few weeks. She is such a source of strength and inspiration to me. I only hope that I can take what she's taught me and use it to strengthen my future companionships. But it's sure going to be hard to measure up to her. Her crazy Aussie ways crack me up. She loves to make incomplete similes like..."That's cool as..." which with her accent, sounds a little sketch, so of course me and my English ways just make something stupid to finish it. It keeps us entertained. :-)

 

Next item of business, I leave in a week! I already got my travel itinerary and I've been the lucky one made group leader since my name starts with a B. Stupid alphabet. Hopefully it doesn't prove too stressful though. We've got a layover in Texas and Florida though, and we leave here at 3am. So excited for that one....yeah.

 

I've been playing hard at gym time lately, which has been nice. We don't get nearly enough exercise around here and it drives me a little crazy. All I want to do is leave and just go walk around for an hour or so to absorb things, but alas I can't...so I play frisbee and other things during free time. The other day the sisters in my district and I decided to play mini soccer and I took a good hard hit to the knee which of course left a lovely bruise because I bruise like crazy. And my foot problems with my heel aren't helping either, but I'm supposed to go to the podiatrist tomorrrow to figure that one out.

 

So, this past week I've been blessed with the opportunity to hear some amazing devotionals and firesides. In class this past week we watched two past devotionals by Elder Holland and Elder Bednar about how to become a missionary. Hearing apostles of the Lord witness of our divine callings as missionaries sure boosts morale. I could listen to them talk all day, but there's too much work to be done.

 

I've also been feeling the weight of responsibility in becoming a missionary this week in the sense that I'm helping people come unto Christ and find eternal salvation. That is not something to forget. So when I get discouraged I've been taking the advice of our leaders and singing a hymn, saying a prayer, or just looking down at my nametag and reminding myself whose name is on it. I am a representative of Christ and He has called me to do this work. I CAN do it.

 

We also had a chance to teach the first lesson as a district this week, which was very interesting. The more you teach, the more you learn, and the more you realize how inadequate and ignorant you are. But it's still good lol. I really love those moments though where I get to see the elders and sisters in my district bear their testimonies of what they know. Sometimes I only see silly little boys in front of me, but they continue to surprise me, and the more they teach me, the more respect I gain for them and the sacrifices they've made to be here.

 

Today we got to go to the temple for the first time since it opened and I have MISSED it so much! I'm so glad I've able to go before I head out to the DR. AND I got to see my friend Suzie as I walked in...so awesome. Tender mercies of the Lord. Days get hard, but I know this gospel is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior.

 

So I'm out of time, but I love you all and would love to hear especially from Moriya, Lia, Kellie, and Bonnie! Could you get word to them mom? I miss them! Until next week!

 

Love,

Hermana Bradley

First Week Gone?

Dear Family,

 

Buenos dias! Greetings from the MTC! So...where to begin? This last week has been a whirlwind of learning and spiritual growth. I feel like I've been here forever and I never want to leave! However, it turns out that contrary to what my original MTC departure date said, I will be leaving after 3 short weeks after all. That's okay though, because I'm excited to go meet the people of the Dominican Republic and begin the Lord's work! So...I'll try and cover what feels like a lifetime since I saw you last.

 

The first day was pretty crazy, but I think because I prepared for the worst, it really wasn't so bad. I LOVE how everything is scheduled out for us and split into different kinds of study, but sometimes it's still hard to keep up. My district is AWESOME and I'm really sad I'll have to say goodbye to them in a few short weeks. My companion's name is Hermana Petty and she's from Australia! Sometimes I just make her pray so I can listen to her lovely accent. It reminds me of my dear old friend Liz...even though her accent is British. They all sound the same to my ignorant ears lol. Anyways, she is amazing and so prepared to teach the gospel, but a little shaky on the language. On the other hand, I feel like I can just get by on the language and no nothing about preaching the gospel, so we make a good team. She'll be going to the San Diego California mission at the end of her 9 weeks. There's 4 elders and 1 sister in my district going to San Antonio Texas, another sister going to the Argentina Mendoza mission, and then 4 elders that will head to the D.R. with me in 2 weeks. But for now, we all laugh alot together and try to learn spanish. Unfortunately I tend to open my big mouth too much and now everyone wants me to move to the intermediate spanish class. But I want to stay with my district, so they'll just have to put up with me. It's funny though, I feel like in the last week I have grasped the language more fully than 2 years of high school spanish and 3 semesters of college spanish. I guess that's what happens with the gift of the Spirit!

 

Yesterday we had our first TRC meeting where we spent 15 minutes speaking in spanish to 3 different people about the gospel and their lives, and then we spent 30 minutes with a volunteer "investigator" teaching the first lesson in English. While it wasn't a perfect lesson by any means, I think Hermana Petty and I work well together and really sought to teach by the spirit. After the lesson I was so excited and happy that we had made it through it! I walked out the door with the stupidest grin on my face and turned to Hma. Petty and said "That was so much FUN!". I have always known the gospel was true and that missionary work was important, but I don't think I expected it to be this fun lol. The Lord has so much more to teach me. But really, it was an amazing experience and I can't wait to go in again next week and smooth out the wrinkles. The more practice teaching the lessons and contacting, the more I like it.

 

We've had some incredible firesides and devotionals this past week as well. On Sunday we had the adminstrative director of the MTC speak to us about the importance of prayer. He emphasized to us that each person has to establish a relationship with the Lord through prayer. Their communication with God is the "main event" and we should be doing everything we can to strengthen that, instead of simply acting as their "guide" to the Lord. That's what I love most about this gospel, that is unique and individual. We don't have to depend on anyone else to know if it is true. We simply pray and ask for ourselves. :-)

 

I'm so glad Sara is enjoying her new area in Tacoma with Sister Fox. Her new investigators Amanda and Ariana sound amazing! I can't wait to hear of their progress.

 

Well I'm almost out of time, but I want to try and bear my testimony in the broken spanish....without accents. So ignore my poor grammar...

 

Yo se que dios ama todos sus hijos. Se que jose smith fue un profeta verdadero de dios y que el libro de mormon es la palabra de dios. Yo se que esta evangelio es verdad y que jesucristo murio por nuestros pecados. Digo estas cosas en el nombre de jesucristo, amen.

 

Love,

Hermana Bradley