I Love Ewe card

I made Brady this card and we all wrote in it and mailed it to him. I hadnt sent him a package since he had gone to Argentina, and in the MTC I had sent him one every week, so I wanted to send something that let him know we were still thinking about him.

And his personality is starting to come back

So, I didnt actually get an email this time...I got a quick, sorry Mom I ran out of time email, pday is Tuesday next week. He told me to read what he wrote his brothers...so this is from their emails. (He calls Argentina, Tina. Its nice to see some of his personality coming through in his letters).

I am doing good down here in Tina. Sometimes I lose my hearing when we're in the foxhole and the grenade goes off close to us. haha...oh that is my Nam story. Tina is good and I am able to pretty much say anything I want in Spanish or Castellano is what they call is here, but I sound like a gringo caveman still and I am doing good though. I am pretty good at soccer and am going to challenge Kevin to a soccer match when I come home. Life here is different, but still fun. The mission is hard, very hard I am not going to lie, and I know I could not do it without the spirit and I know I could not even handle it without the spirit. At home it was like there was never a time where I was humbled so much where I had to ask for sincere help and really want it, it happened out here. I realized how the Lord has been helping because its like he took a step back and then I realized crap, I need Him. With the Lord life is great, I feel good, and glad to be serving a mission. The Latinos here on the mission are so funny and know funny English phrases and words. Its funny to watch them have a conversation in English with each other haha. Its a city I serve in so all I see is concrete all the time, so allergies here, there are none. We did a family home evening with the ward here like we used to do at Skinners house in the 8th ward. We did it to welcome a return missionary, Tito Casas is his name. The Latino missionaries here all know the word "freak" in English and a lot more funny words, except some of them are bad words they know but they didnt know they were bad. It is very hard and always on the go, mental and mental physically. I am very able to see the Lord's hand in my life and trust in the Lord. Here I have learned that when I was at home I like to and felt good and accomplished when I did things on my own. Here there is no possible way I could do this work or even handle doing this work without the spirit and living according to the standards of the Lord. Study hard in school and be the example because someone is always looking for a leader and a good example. Stay sweet and enjoy the cold. If you are cold outside this winter think of me roastin like a pig in a fire in the Island of New Guinea or somewhere that its hot. haha

Elder Brother Brady Wikstrom, The James Version

Hola Personas,

Doin good! I have a native companion who walks very fast but is a hard worker. We don't speak the same first language and since he's a fast person I feel like I am testing his patience when I tell him I don't understand what he said a lot, but I am doing so much better with the language. I can understand more than less of what is being said even with conversations with the members who talk about other things too than just gospel stuff all the time, like about their friends who could use help or something. The place here is really crowded and every house is gated in and barb wired at the top sometimes. We have to clap most every house to get them to come to the door. We only work through referrals from people we meet like members and ward and referrals from referrals. We never knock on door or clap at doors or do street contacting. Once we street contacted when I was with a zone leader on a transfer, but it went nowhere. Things here are way expensive and I live on like 170 dollars, which is 900 pesos, a month for food and hygiene stuff but it's all good. Just got to learn how to manage your money. I feel right now like this will be a loong 2 years but I like it. I like the work because I know its the Lord's work and that hes taking care of us here. I miss you all at home and would like to hear from you all. If there is anything you'd like to know about here just ask and Ill respond. I have been drinking the water here, haven't got sick. Maybe after my mission, but when someone offers you a glass of water and its hot outside, you take it...or at least I did. hahaha. I haven't really had any exotic foods yet, but the foods here are good. The members here are very supportive of the missionaries just like people are at home and they love helping us out. I feel like we're the most successful when we get a referral from a member because the person who is the referral has a friend or native to testify also instead of two random 19 and 20 year old. I miss you all to death, but I really love the mission. I hope you all enjoy reading this and will write back if you have the time. I would love to respond to you.
Love Elder Wikstrom!

2 months on his mission

We didn't get an email from Brady today, but I caught him online and got to chat for a few minutes.

Brady: I have only 40 minutes today because I was at lunch for a while and we got to go play soccer soon.
Me: How is your day going?
Brady: Good. I ate some BBQ roast or brisket stuff and had an awesome fruit salad, but I am getting along good. I still miss you guys and I miss good ole Merica.
Me: How's things going with your companion? Do you guys get along?
Brady: Ya, we get along. I feel like sometimes I test his patience, but I don't understand Spanish and I feel like things need to be done his way like cleaning up around the apartment, but we get along. Hes awesome. One of the other missionaries stayed a night with me and my companion went to his companion because my companion is the district leader and he was surprised by it too and he harassed him about it. I'm doing good though. I just don't like not ever knowing whats going on haha. I don't know why he also walks at my jogging speed everywhere. It bothers me because Im jogging to keep up and if I am not, he doesn't slow down. I just don't feel like we look like missionaries when we dont walk together.
Me: I'm sorry, I guess you'll get a work out everyday...you'll be in shape. Haha. You may be thankful for this guy if you get a companion who wont work lol. I love you.
Brady: Ya, I  have realized it is always to turn out for my good, I just don't realize it at the moment, haha. Hes a good hard worker.
Me: Have you got any mail from us yet?
Brady: I haven't got any mail.
Me: Ok, I've been mailing every week. I dropped today's off, but its Columbus Day so it wont go out til tomorrow. Today is 3 weeks!  I would think you should be getting it soon. You flew there 3 weeks ago, right?
Brady: Ya its crazy huh? I know, nobody here works on holidays and Columbus Day  is one here too. Holidays, Sundays, and the middle of the day there isn't many stores open or people out especially on Sundays and holidays cause they're all lounging around and sleeping.
Me: That might be why no mail today...its not delivered on holidays. How was the zoo?
Brady: Zoo was awesome. I took lots of pictures. All the missionaries were there. It was good and we all got like 64 pesos for lunch too! I had a good time.
Me: Glad you had a good time. Do you knock on doors? Or do street contacts? Do you see other missionaries regularly? Or never? Did you enjoy doing splits?
Brady:We don't do either, we only work through members and referrals here though. Everyone's house is gated in so you have to clap, and I have only once ever done a street contact, it was on splits though with the zone leader. It was fun. I love street contacting. I enjoy splits. Yes, its a good change from a routine. We see a few other elders probably twice a week and one of them is American so he speaks English and has only been out for like 3 months here and can speak good Spanish already.
Me: (referring to the picture out his window...there was a birthday sign in the window) Who made the birthday sign in your window?
Brady: Elder Espinoza did. Only the two of us live together. I think he might have cleaning OCD too. We were scrubbing walls and floors with a rag, but that might be something we have to do. We got a paper this last week of things we need to do from the President and his wife, but I cant read the Spanish. haha!
Me: Haha, that's kinda funny. Hows the Spanish coming? Do you feel like you're getting it?
Brady: My Spanish is good. Sometimes I don't know a word they said and sometimes I can talk with the person and understand them, but it only happens sometimes and if I am paying close attention. If I don't pay attention it sounds like blabbering still.
Brady: I got to go mom, I love you and thank you for all you've ever done for me and all you still do for me. I am realizing now all the little things you did now that I don't have them and how patient you were with me. That is why I say thank you for all things in the past. Tell dad I love him too. I love you all!

Holy cow, I love these pictures! Thank you so much for wishin me a Happy Birthday. I have some mail to send to you all, but dont know how yet and dont know how long itll take to get to you, but I made bros a b day card from me. The room looks so different. Where in the world is the wall paper at? That chart doesnt look like it has that much to fill even...that is weird, and I love the horsey masks!
I was able to watch general conference in English, yes all of it. The Saturday session I watched in English at a members house. We had them invite a non member and the mom of that house made some awesome empenadas and pizza! The other sessions on Sunday I watched at the chapel in Ballester, in English on a puter screen. It was very good and I loved it. I have gotten much better at praying but still need to improve on my scriptures. I love it down here, I just miss you all at home. I have been homesick for the family and my neighborhood and even the US  of A, but I get along just great. The grocery store, Carrefour, is at the end of my road. I have a straight window view of a yellow house and El Buen Sabor, whic are across the street and started down the road from Carrefour. They dont have soda selection like we do. Its Coke Coke, or Pepsi, or Fanta or Coke Life or a couple other choices. My companion likes the alcoholess beer and bought me one for my b day, but I told him I didnt want it. I drank coke. I drink milk from a bag and its good milk too. I use my unwashed Duck Dynasty cup every single day! I know sometimes all I want to do is come home because I want to see my family and live the life that fits with my culture, but know if I were to leave I would spend the rest of my life regretting it. I remember dad told me that, so I thank dad for him knowing what that feels like and making me aware. I know its hard on dad but I hope it eases his stress about it knowing that it helps his son stay on his mission and want to stay on his mission. I really do miss you guys and some days all I want to do is count down the time til I can come home. I really missed you on all our birthdays and even cried a little, but I am good. I write in my journal every night since Cole and Carson's birthday! and plan on doing it from here on out. I can actually see the importance of it. I love you all and hope everyone doesnt grow up too fast. I have cards for Cole and Carson but still tell them that I wished them a happy birthday and had candy for our birthdays, peanut M&Ms on the 3rd of October. I am learning a lot and asee that I am only two weeks in the field and at this pace of learning all the lessons I do, I will be a champion by the time I come home! Seriously. I am learning and think I will learn how to overcome a lot of my problems in life. haha. I am weird sometimes you know that. Sorry, I apologize for that and my worrying so much and my OCD ordeal, but I am getting better. I know you blame the worrying on you, but dont. I am ok and it is good to worry a little and I will be fine, so I hope  you dont worry about it or anything else. The Lord is keeping a watchful eye over me and I pray he does for you all too all the time. I can see he is. I am glad dad got a new job. I dont care how much he makes, I just care for him to be happy and to be able to spend valuable time with yall at home!  How is DWS? I am excited to see bros rooms. Tylers is soo different. I love the pictures and I thank you for my birthday presents. I tried to recreate my birthday, but didnt have a couple of things, like the 2 and 3 O clock items, and I am sad I threw away some of the notes like to the flashlight, but I still have most of the notes. I love the album of the family and everyone else. You are a very nice craft person. I love all you do for me. This all is motivation for me to stay out on my mission also. Seriously mom, I dont think you know how much youve helped me as well as dad and brothers! I am feeling good and havent had the turkey squirts or anything and I use my prayer rock cause I love the way it reminds me like ya dunce, get praying dude. Ahhh man mom, I love you and I love the whole family! I feel like there was something I wanted to say more but forgot and will remember later, like right when I get off...but ya, I think I am doing great and everything is all good! ps Did you do a conference breakfast?

This picture totally shows Bradys personality.

The yellow house outside his window

El Buen Sabor, just down the street

Recreating his birthday (which he had already opened in the MTC)

Happy Birthday

We sent this in an email to Brady and then mailed the signs with the picture after.We each drew the sign we are holding. We sure missed him for his birthday.