November 8

I’m supposed to write and let you know I’m alive and doing well. So, I’m alive and doing well!

     We (my travel group and I) made it to SLC International just fine and flew 2.5 hours to Tulsa in a tiny 2 aisle 2 seats per aisle plane. The guy next to me just slept, so I decided I would. After we arrived in Tulsa and were walking to the baggage claim a bunch of people waiting at some gates cheered when they saw a group of 6 missionaries walking in the airport. We stopped at the restrooms and while waiting for a couple of missionaries, a couple of girls came up and talked to us. It was really weird, especially the cheering.

     So we were driven around downtown. I took some pictures (be sure to burn them onto CDs so I can get them when I get back).

     Well, it’s really interesting to see what happens when you put your life into the hands of the Lord. I knew that he would bless me, but I didn’t expect Him to give me what I wanted. I wanted to go to a foreign mission and learn a language not related to Latin or Germanic, and yet I was called to Tulsa, OK. You see, a week ago, President Seal was given permission to have two missionaries learn Maylay (not sure of the spelling, but that’s how you pronounce it), and proselyte to a group of about 8000 Maylay people in Arkansas that refuse to speak English. He looked at his missionaries and couldn’t find a single one. Then he read Dad’s letter and read about my interest in languages. So the plan is that I’m going to do some normal proselytizing for 3 months and then be paired with Elder Jaynes (whose father talked with Darrin) and learn Maylay and proselyte in Maylay for a year. I am supremely excited about this! Especially since this is a language they don’t teach in the MTC, and in fact, very few people speak.

     Tonight we had Sally, a convert of two weeks, come and tell us her conversion story. She is the oldest daughter of the sheik of Fallujah in Iraq. Her story is amazing. She searched many Christian churches, but said she felt nothing until she found this church. She says that the gospel will first go to the Middle East though Middle East converts like herself. She said she’s sending Arabic BofMs to some friends in the Middle East. One interesting thing she said was that the Quar’an (Koran) is a copy of the Book of Mormon, with some things changed.

     Well, it’s time for bed. I must say I’m glad I know something more about what I’m going to do- other than just preaching the gospel for two years. Anyway, cheerio!

November 9

     We just got our transfers. My companion will be Elder Morrell, and I’m going to Fort Smith. AR, just inside the border, about where the border straightens out. The plan is that I serve there 3-4 months and then go to learn Marshallese (not Maylay, sorry), and proselyte to the Marshallese people with Elder Jaynes for a year. I’m not sure if I mentioned this or not, but Marshallese is not taught at any of the 17 or so MTCs.

     We went proselyting for about 4 hours today. We gave some pass-along-cards away and a Book of Mormon. There’s lots of churches here, so proselyting is not something entirely new to these people, and they’re pretty cool about hearing preachers. It’s still part of the Bible Belt, but there’s more than just Baptists here.

     Anyway, it’s time for bed. But, just so you know, packages should be sent to the mission office, and letters sent to the mission office are sure to get to me.

PS, I had an idea. Have Nick contact Darrel and maybe I could visit some old investigators. And go ahead and send your packages now!

Elder Bradshaw

1624  S.   C  Street  Apt. #7

Fort Smith, AR  72901