Because some chicas were getting irritable...

I have recieved a few angry words from my "fans" about not posting Elder Bishop's letters so here they are. enjoy

Thu, Oct 15, 2009
Dear Everyone,
Hopefully I won't have any trouble getting my email off to you this week. There isn't
nearly as much to say this week so I don't think there should be any problem. It sounds
like everyone is having a great time going to Disneyland and to Texas. That's really
cool that Will was able to get you 3 tickets for Disneyland from his friend. It's like
almost $100 per person now isn't it? Still, I'm glad that Ben and Macey were able to go
on some good rides and that Kiley is a Teacups fan.
Thanks for talking to Tyler about dropping off that extra suit. I too have seen the
secret drop-off point. It's a favorite on the Black Market for missionaries who call in
a pizza or maybe a Sonic Blizzard. It's alright though. There were some one-suit Elders
in one of our new Districts who were asking about how to get their suits cleaned while
Elder Mills and I were taking them around the MTC. We told them we'd talk to President
Estes (the zone's Branch President) as soon as we got the chance. He was sick for a
couple days so we didn't get to talk to him for a while. His counselors were a little
stressed with all the things they had to do since it was supposed to be his Sunday to
teach everything. Actually, the second counselor is completely new to the MTC too so
really it was just the first counselor, Brother Cameron, who was taking care of
everything. He asked Elder Mills and I to help him out with Priesthood meeting at the
last minute so we got a lesson together really fast about the Holy Ghost.
Anyway, we finally talked to President Estes and he said that since there was no other
way, we would just have to do one day wearing our white shirts. One-suit Elders get
their stuff cleaned by the next day if you turn it in on certain days so as long as I
don't need to get anything repaired on my suit before I leave I should be fine.
A couple days ago, one of district leaders for our zone had to go to the E.R. and get his
appendix removed. He and one of his companions (he's in a trio companionship) got up in
the middle of the Tuesday night devotional and walked out. The third companion was
sitting in the choir with us so he didn't know what was going on and it was already 9:30
that night when he called the front desk and found out his companions were at the
hospital. We still didn't know what was wrong, but our whole zone was praying for him
that night. The Elder should be back here in a day or two and is still scheduled to
leave in a week and a half with the rest of his district.
I'm glad that I finally got a letter from you Bryce even if your whole letter did sound
like you were talking to me on Gmail chat or facebook. Still, it was good to hear from
you and I hope you had a great time in Texas. Aren't Brooklyn, Davin, and Brennen so
awesome? Anyway, be careful when you're going up against those 900 lb Polynesians. I
was playing futbol one day here and one of the Tongan Elders here was playing tackle
football on the field instead of futbol. I was taking the ball off the line and crossing
it towards the goal and right after I punted it in, I got laid flat by this one Elder.
It was really fun.
The Spanish here is going great and so is everything else. We're teaching all our
lessons in Spanish for both the TRC and the TE and we are up to 3 days a week of SYL for
our district goal. Elder Mills and I also decided to do another day of only SYL as a
companionship. I think I've decided that next week I'm gonna go for all SYL for the
remainder of my time here in the MTC. Obviously I still have to speak English during
interviews with the Branch Presidencies or when orienting the new districts that come in,
but other than that I'm really gonna try to just speak Spanish.
I forgot to tell you last time to tell the Carrolls thank you for bringing that package
for me. I was sad to hear that Brother Hansen is moving to Utah. He was an awesome YM
leader and I learned a ton from him.
There was something else I was going to tell/ask you, but I can't remember it right now.
If I remember later, I'll send it in my letter to Bryce or Ben. Speaking of which, did
Ben never receive my letter to him? It sounds like Bryce got his, but I sent one to Ben
as well. I'll send another one this week though.
Thanks for all your support and love. It helps a lot to get letters from you.
(Especially if they're spaced out between days.)
Su Hijo and Hermano Amoroso,
Elder Bradley Bishop

Thu, Oct 08, 2009
Dear Everyone,
So I just spent a half hour writing to you about all the amazing things that have been
happening here. Unfortunately, I ran out of time and it kicked me off before I could
send it because the mouse was freezing. So...I basically lost all that I had written to
you. One of the other Elders had a couple minutes left on his email time so I'm logged
in on his account. I'll write you a regular letter home, with everything in it but I
just wanted to let you know I'm doing great and that I received your package mom. I hope
you're all doing well! Tengan un buen dia!
-Elder Bradley Bishop

Thu, Oct 01, 2009
Dear Everyone,
Thank you so much for your letters this week. I really enjoyed reading them! It sounds
like everything in Mesa is going well. I can't believe that you put Satellite up at our
cabin. But then again, I'm kinda anti-T.V./Movies right now anyway so I'm sure that I'll
be fine with it up there when I get back in two years. :) Bryce, I'm so jealous of you
getting to play rugby! That would have been such a fun thing to do in high school. I
hope your hand gets better soon.
I don't know if you got my letter about sending me a spanish hymnbook or not, but don't
worry about it anymore. They finally received a shipment of them today after not having
them for 5 months and so my companion and I ran down there to buy some. As for your idea
about sending the two SD cards back and forth, I had already heard other missionaries
doing it here and I was going to buy another one as soon as I got out into the field.
However, if you want to send me another one now that would be great too. You have to
send the SD cards in a special package every time, but I still think that that would be
better than printing up pictures for you and sending them to you all the time. Yes, I'd
still like a music player if you have the chance to get me one so that Ryan can load his
church songs on there when Dad and Bryce go to Texas. I can't use it here in the MTC,
because the Mission President asked us not to do so, but I'll most likely be able to do
so in Mississippi. I'm glad to hear your classes are going well Mom and from the letters
I received from Ben and Macey, it sounds like Kiley is enjoying her classes a lot as
well. Oh, and Macey, congratulations on taking that Spanish class! Tell Grandma I'm
grateful for her letter dictated to you through "Dear Elder." I told some of
my district members that my 92 year-old Grandma had written me on Dear Elder and one of
them couldn't believe that she could type!
Anyway, we don't get to go to any BYU firesides or devotionals, but we always have great
speakers of our own on Sundays and Tuesdays. This last Sunday, we had Mission Conferance
(which we have on Fast Sundays) and we had the whole Mission Presidency and their wives
speak to us. They are all inspired! I love taking notes and then referring back to them
during my personal study time. Yesterday, they instituted the "no touching
rule" for all the missionaries due to the flu season. So, we can't shake hands or
anything anymore. We are allowed to bump knees though when we want to congratulate each
other so I guess that'll have to do. :) Unfortunately, we aren't singing in General
Conference, but I and my whole district have been attending Choir practice every time and
we sing at every Tuesday night devotional.
I saw Elder Barney from the Lyn Rae ward when he arrived yesterday. Him, Elder Merkley,
and I all got to talk for a bit during dinner before we had to go our seperate ways.
Elder Webb is coming up here next week as well so Elder Merkley and I are excited to see
him again since we all hung out a lot before we left.
Elder Mills and I have been teaching lessons to other missionaries in Spanish this week
and we have to teach the full first lesson in spanish for the first time at the TRC this
Tuesday. It will be hard, but I know we'll do fine because we've been studying hard and
practicing with the lesson already. Also, Elder Mills and I were called to be zone
leaders this last Sunday. Right before Sacrament meeting started, one of the Branch
Presidency members pulled us outside and asked us if we would do it. The previous zone
leaders were leaving the next day so we didn't get much time to ask them questions before
they left. So right now we are just doing our best and relying on the Spirit.
Currently, we have 4 districts in our zone that we are responsible for and we most likely
will be getting another one next Wednesday. Our duties aren't too great, but we
definitely lose a portion of our study time each day getting everything done. So far
we've been able to solve any problems within the zone and hopefully we'll be able to
continue doing a good job. I know you're already praying for me, but please pray for
Elder Mills and I to be able to fulfill our duties as zone leaders as well as our
responsibilities as missionaries preparing for the field.
I love you all so much, and I'm so grateful to be out here serving. The time here is
going by so quickly and I can't wait to go to Mississippi!
Love,
Elder Bradley Bishop