tbone you're a hoser. I haven't heard from you forever. Put down the cell phone and email me. You're ridiculous. How was the olympics, and start helping mom out. You write me or I'll spank you and take away your birthday, or rather I'll send my homies to do it!!!!!!
It is my humble pleasure to again inform you that there will be a baptism held for Dawn Bowlen on August 30, 2008 at 7:00 pm at the Beloit Ward meeting house. It's really exciting, this lady soaks up everything and studies hard. She had to give up smoking, drinking, everything. She's awesome. She also has a younger daughter who is starting to take the discusionsions. We have scheduled at least 3 baptisms in the next 2 weeks, but that's the thing there's a possibility that there will be a transfer. Transfers are next Wednesday, which is tough because one of these others we only have a couple commandments to teach and she is scheduled for baptism three days after transfers. The other two we just have some commandments to teach also and theirs will be the following week. If I get transfered it will be tough, as these are people we've found and taught all the way through and commited to baptism. There are also a lot of other people that have great potential. The work has really picked up. Like I said last week, as soon as My comp started being more obedient (and even I), and as soon as we worked some things out, the Lord blessed us and we had 5 people committed to baptismal dates over the space of three days in a row. Now some of those dates have been pushed back, and we've run into some troubles. None the less they are on track and we have truly been blessed. It is such a testimony builder. So we'll see what President does though. I will do just as the song says, "I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord...I'll say what you want me to say." This transfer did go by really fast though.
The Orthodontist worked out nicely. Once again the Lord has blessed us. She didn't charge me anything. Didn't take down my insurance nothing. She adjusted the wire, and put glue on the WHOLE wire not just on the part that broke. She was very generous and kind. When I stood up I asked what I needed to do, or is that all, and she said yep no charge. I was so thankful. I made sure she knew that. I gave her a pass along card with our cell phone number, if she ever needed anything to call. I got a picture of me in the chair. I've also done something to my foot running the other morning. It's getting a little better, but the other day I couldn't put any weight on it so I limped along. We'll see how that goes.
So how come the T-Bone won't write me and tell me what his school schedule is Times and classes etc.
This companionship is deffinately going to go down as an interesting one. We had another big one on Thursday, he swore. But Yeah things were good again. We decided from then on we weren't going to let things build, or wait till Thursdays to get it out, we'd just do it right then and there. We get better and better every week, so it will be interesting to see what happens with this transfer. WE ARE HAVING A BAPTISM THOUGH, so we are receiving blessings from heaven. She had no problem commiting to baptism and she has progressed so fast. In fact she ordered her own Quad and already has it!!!! I love teaching this lady, and she will be such a strong member. In fact I see her teaching the Gospel Doctrine class, as she loves the deep stuff. I got another letter from Bill Murray, and aparently (when I got the letter a week or two ago) he was already in about Alma 43, he reads Preach My Gospel, a book abou the Priesthood, and the book for class. He gave me advice on missionary work and companions, and I think it was from Preach My Gospel. He's amazing, he's going to be a bishop. To think he was Roman Catholic is unfathomable. The Church is True, my testimony of Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon continue to be strengthened. I know Joseph Smith was called of God to open this last dispensation as a Prophet, and I know that today President Thomas S. Monson is his success and our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. The Book of Mormon is the word of God given to the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. I have prayed to have an answer about The Book of Mormon and have received the comforting answer that it is true. The more I study the Scriptures and teach from them the more knowledge I gain and the more I learn, the more my testimony of these things grows as it makes more and more sense. The spirit comforts us and answers our prayers. I am truly on the Lord's errand and he works miracles, and shows his hand in the work daily. I have embarked on a divine work, and am involved in the most important and divine work on the earth, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and the only True and Living Church here on the earth today. Our Savior loves us, and the power of his Atonement is real, and has real cleansing power. I love Jesus Christ and all that he has done, does, and will do. I say these things in the name of him who was crucified, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Amen.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
August 20, 2008
Yeah that Testimony from Bill is pretty amazing. I think I told you how I shared part of it in my talk I had to give on Sunday, a week or two ago. I want you to know that I'm so glad that you're my mom. That's way cool also that Henrique is heading back out. I'm not going to lie, I had my doubts. I would have to agree with you, there has been many blessings. Spencer's Eagle Project, my car (Which I'm way stoked about being sold, but not cheap), Josh's bike, His car, everything. Speaking of bike, this big Black guy let us take a picture on his sweet Bullet bike. It was all white, and Chrome, with Snake skin Seats. Oh yeah we looked pretty cool. We got his information too, still trying to get in contact with him. He said it would be his mom that would be interested. I knew that as school was about to start that condo time would come up, OH I loved going up there. So then then School started this week right?
Anyway we had interviews last Thursday. President basically said there's a chance I'm getting transferred, but he said he'll see how these next couple of weeks go by. In fact he said to me that he had told Elder Glauser that he might make a change, I think to help him. When he told me this I pretty much broke down. I told Pres. I loved the area the ward and it was like me backing out. That's essentially what I told Pres. He just told me that I was the missionary that every President hoped for, and gave me words of encouragement with that.
Then we had Zone Conference Friday. The whole thing was on being obedient, and having faith to find people. HOW PERFECT!!! Every single thing that was said was exactly what needed to be said. It was surreal. I went up to President during lunch break, and told him, I don't know if you decided to do and say all this stuff before or if you decided to do it based upon my letters to you and our interview, but wow. (In so many words that's what I said). Anyway Elder Glauser started changing some things, obeying the speed limit, helping me remember to back him out, etc. Then get this, the blessings of the Lord are able to be unlocked. Saturday we taught a couple the quite smoking and drinking lesson (which is awesome, I want to do it for Grandpa). The lesson was great. We had a member there and the spirit was so strong, we taught with power and authority!! Then we taught this Black guy and his wife. I bore my testimony to them at the end of the lesson after teaching about Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon, and the spirit was so strong I cried right there in in their basement. I bore my heart and soul to them and it was only our first lesson with them. It was incredible. We actually taught them the first and second lesson there, and then he asked when he could get the third and do this again. He's hilarious, I love black people. Then that night we committed a mother and daughter we had been teaching to baptism on the 30th!! They said Yes. Sunday: The two we taught the quit smoking lesson to... We committed them to baptism on the 30th. They said Yes. Monday we had exchanges and I stayed in Beloit. We taught this Black lady we had been teaching, and commited her to baptism on the 30th!!! I talked to Elder Glauser about how we are being blessed by being obedient and he said, " I know I know you don't have to rub it in."
I warned our investigators about how babies cry, phones ring, etc. whenever we share the first vision, and how now that you've committed to be baptised satan would tempt you and try you. Because he knows of the righteous decision you are about to make. He knows of the divinity of this work. Bill told us how there was an anti mormon show on television one night after he had his baptismal date set, but he turned it off. I forgot to tell the first ones we committed on Saturday, and I remembered when we got home that night. Sure enough the next day was going to be their first time a church and one of the kids cut his foot on glass and had to go to the hospital. Theirs is now pushed to the 6th, and we went over that day and told them to hold strong. Then yesterday we went to stop by our ones that quit smoking (Ron and Dawn) and she said it wasn't a good time. I found out today that Ron's in prison (Long story). She knows it's true and still wants to be baptised but she doesn't know about him. (They both slipped up on their addiction because of the whole ordeal) Then we found out the other lady isn't really married to the guy she's living with. We haven't told them they have to be married or split. She wants to be baptized we don't know about him. We have to work that out. So all this stuff is happening. I think about our investigators at night. I think one night I even dreamed I was teaching a lesson. (I don't remember) My last companion actually did tell me that I was bearing my testimony in my sleep. So we have some trials ahead of us, but the blessings are here.
Hey mom. Just a list of things that I need. I know that you already sent a package, sorry. Anyway, about the pills I haven't taken them in a long time, I don't know if they caused any of my diareah in my first area. I've been a little stressed with investigators, and thinking about things that way. I've had a hard time sleeping just the past few nights so I'm going to try and take a half and see what that does. I had a little of the squirts this morning. So I don't know. I have a bottle and a half or so left. So list of things I need Contact solution (I should be able to get this with my mission card, I have enough to get me to next week),avon stuff (Cleansing pads, green mud mask stuff), another journal (I finished the first and I'm a good chunk into this one), my running arm band from amber ( I told her I'd take it on my mission when I first got it, get it set up for me and send the instructions), Prayers and love.
With love and Gratitude, Your Elder Adams
P.S.-one of my garment bottoms has a hole in it. I think it's on the seem, can I sew it or do I have to destroy it, I definatey shouldn't wear it. I am saving it to hear the word. How can I get longer blades for the clippers. I cut my hair with the longest and now it doesn't part!!! Can I get some at Wal-Mart.
Anyway we had interviews last Thursday. President basically said there's a chance I'm getting transferred, but he said he'll see how these next couple of weeks go by. In fact he said to me that he had told Elder Glauser that he might make a change, I think to help him. When he told me this I pretty much broke down. I told Pres. I loved the area the ward and it was like me backing out. That's essentially what I told Pres. He just told me that I was the missionary that every President hoped for, and gave me words of encouragement with that.
Then we had Zone Conference Friday. The whole thing was on being obedient, and having faith to find people. HOW PERFECT!!! Every single thing that was said was exactly what needed to be said. It was surreal. I went up to President during lunch break, and told him, I don't know if you decided to do and say all this stuff before or if you decided to do it based upon my letters to you and our interview, but wow. (In so many words that's what I said). Anyway Elder Glauser started changing some things, obeying the speed limit, helping me remember to back him out, etc. Then get this, the blessings of the Lord are able to be unlocked. Saturday we taught a couple the quite smoking and drinking lesson (which is awesome, I want to do it for Grandpa). The lesson was great. We had a member there and the spirit was so strong, we taught with power and authority!! Then we taught this Black guy and his wife. I bore my testimony to them at the end of the lesson after teaching about Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon, and the spirit was so strong I cried right there in in their basement. I bore my heart and soul to them and it was only our first lesson with them. It was incredible. We actually taught them the first and second lesson there, and then he asked when he could get the third and do this again. He's hilarious, I love black people. Then that night we committed a mother and daughter we had been teaching to baptism on the 30th!! They said Yes. Sunday: The two we taught the quit smoking lesson to... We committed them to baptism on the 30th. They said Yes. Monday we had exchanges and I stayed in Beloit. We taught this Black lady we had been teaching, and commited her to baptism on the 30th!!! I talked to Elder Glauser about how we are being blessed by being obedient and he said, " I know I know you don't have to rub it in."
I warned our investigators about how babies cry, phones ring, etc. whenever we share the first vision, and how now that you've committed to be baptised satan would tempt you and try you. Because he knows of the righteous decision you are about to make. He knows of the divinity of this work. Bill told us how there was an anti mormon show on television one night after he had his baptismal date set, but he turned it off. I forgot to tell the first ones we committed on Saturday, and I remembered when we got home that night. Sure enough the next day was going to be their first time a church and one of the kids cut his foot on glass and had to go to the hospital. Theirs is now pushed to the 6th, and we went over that day and told them to hold strong. Then yesterday we went to stop by our ones that quit smoking (Ron and Dawn) and she said it wasn't a good time. I found out today that Ron's in prison (Long story). She knows it's true and still wants to be baptised but she doesn't know about him. (They both slipped up on their addiction because of the whole ordeal) Then we found out the other lady isn't really married to the guy she's living with. We haven't told them they have to be married or split. She wants to be baptized we don't know about him. We have to work that out. So all this stuff is happening. I think about our investigators at night. I think one night I even dreamed I was teaching a lesson. (I don't remember) My last companion actually did tell me that I was bearing my testimony in my sleep. So we have some trials ahead of us, but the blessings are here.
Hey mom. Just a list of things that I need. I know that you already sent a package, sorry. Anyway, about the pills I haven't taken them in a long time, I don't know if they caused any of my diareah in my first area. I've been a little stressed with investigators, and thinking about things that way. I've had a hard time sleeping just the past few nights so I'm going to try and take a half and see what that does. I had a little of the squirts this morning. So I don't know. I have a bottle and a half or so left. So list of things I need Contact solution (I should be able to get this with my mission card, I have enough to get me to next week),avon stuff (Cleansing pads, green mud mask stuff), another journal (I finished the first and I'm a good chunk into this one), my running arm band from amber ( I told her I'd take it on my mission when I first got it, get it set up for me and send the instructions), Prayers and love.
With love and Gratitude, Your Elder Adams
P.S.-one of my garment bottoms has a hole in it. I think it's on the seem, can I sew it or do I have to destroy it, I definatey shouldn't wear it. I am saving it to hear the word. How can I get longer blades for the clippers. I cut my hair with the longest and now it doesn't part!!! Can I get some at Wal-Mart.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
August 13, 2008
Ok T-bone out!????? That's cool though that you get to do prep class though. I wish I was on the right track and had been going to that. It's also pretty cool that you have the Priesthood. I use that power a ton out here. I've given I think at least 1 blessing a week here in beloit. I just gave a blessing sunday or monday to a little baby who has had two liver transplants, multiple hernia surgeries, a stop put in one of his arteries (I think that's what it's called), he has no immune system, and he's anemic, and he is going in for surgery on a hernia again. So they asked us to give him a blessing, and of course the chose the rookie. I think I'm almost out of rookie though. I've been out almost 3 months next week!! That's 1/8 of my mission. It goes by so fast, Missionary Time is like warp time. We are working with a couple of great investigators, and they might be ready for baptism here in 2-4 weeks. Possibly 3-5 of them!!!!!! Oh and more ghetto experiences for ya. So we were in Beloit in the hood, and this part was worse than the other parts we'd been in. Houses condemned, kids smoking weed on the corners, people roming the streets, and we are like the only white people ( I think I saw one other white lady). Anyway this guy in a red car hollers to us while we are out knocking on doors and he asks who we are. He says two white guys knocking on doors in the Hood thats a good way to get shot. We were like ok. But me and my comp started talking to him. This car blasting rap pulls up behind me and the guy's friend that I'm talking to goes over to the car that pulled up behind me. My comp says he saw them exchange money and a little white bage of white stuff (coke). Drug Deal!!! This little bags are called dime bags and they are everywhere, especially here on this street that we were on it's called Keeler St. or Keeler Ave.? This bags have little designs on them too, like playboy bunny, spades, dice, it's crazy. I'm in the hood. We set up some appointments here though, and got a lot of stares from people. I haven't decided whether or not to share this story with mom or not since I'm right here in it. You decide whether or not to tell her and then if you do tell her let me know what she says. Anyway you haven't told me what classes you're taking, or who your teachers are and school starts next week!!!!Oh also study that Preach my gospel. Have it highlighted up marked everything. You live by that book out here, and there is so much good advice in there. I wish I had studied it more. Anyway love you tons T-bone. keep it real and keep writing you hoser.
I just started to read your email and I read the part about talking to your leaders, and I don't think it's something I've told you but I had to stop and write you so I didn't forget. My companion is a District Leader!!! And so I think that makes it even harder for him to accept what I say, or for me to be able to talk to him, because I think he thinks that I'm just a "greeny" and have no idea what I'm talking about, and I think he thinks he's district leader and that's that. I don't think he likes hearing about obedience from a greeny.
Mom thanks for the Companionships bit. It's Genius. I got an email last wednesday back from president answering my question on music and tracting. I told him president had responded, as soon as we got in the car to leave from email. I told him we should stick to the things that we would listen to in sacrament meeting, the things we know for sure like Mormon Tabernacle Quoir until we could meet with president in a week. He was ticked, he said I'm not listening to that, we'll listen to nothing, then he drove like a crazy!!! The next day we had another companionship inventory and he got ticked at me, he said I was controlling planning, I told him that's because he just sits there and has a negative attitude and when I ask him what he wants to do or what he thinks of something he replies in a negative way or gives a pessimistic answer. We talked about a lot of the same stuff and then he blew up and swore at me and was going off. I just said ok, you plan the day lets just stop by people. I tried to help him and to compromise. It helped a little. We had exchanges on saturday with the Zone leaders. I had talked to them about some of the things and so that was their focus of the exchange. I talked to the Zone leader that I was with, and told him the things he did. He gave me some ideas on things that I could do, like planning with the spirit, and helping to strengthen my coompanions testimony. He was really down, negative, and quiet all sunday. We had successful day Monday and he was a lot happier. I was supprised maybe something happened over exchanges. Then that night he really suprised me, he came and got me to say comp prayer while I was working out. He actually beat me in getting ready for bed. Normally I go to bed and he sits downstairs playing sodoku or doing who knows what. I have no idea when he goes to bed. We had an amazing day tuesday too, we taught some great people. Some of them I think will be ready for baptism. We did service for this older widowed lady that we met tracting. Her sister is a member in California. We cleaned out her raingutters, and then she had me prune her trees and Elder Glauser finished the Gutters. It was awesome we did a ton. Afterwards her heart was completely softened. It was like Ammon and King Lamoni from the BoM. Then she said you've made a believer out of me. She couldn't believe we had come and did all that we did, and how nice we were. She tried to give us $50 each, and said, that she knew we'd put it to good use or into our church or someone who needed it. We tried to refuse. I tried to tell her Christ never accepting anything, and that this is what we did. I tried to tell her she could just pay it forward, and I explained what that was. We ended up excepting the money, and it was a good thing too because earlier that day one of investigators in the rough part of town said they were struggling with food, and they were going to shut off the lights. We thinking of how to work that. We've been trying to get a hold of the bishop. She also wanted to take us out to dinner. Again we said dinner would be enough. So we said we would go home and change and meet her at the restaurant that she wanted to go to. It was a little family restaurant, and she got all dressed up too! We talked with her a lot about the BoM and the Bible and things like that. We also talked about life, and people dying. We talked about our lives too. And then the cool thing happened, She asked us where she could get a copy of the BOM. We said oh we have them. She wanted to pay for that too. We set up an appointment when we could bring a copy by and teach her. She consented. (Again softening of the heart.) It was an awesome meeting, she is the sweetest little lady. She said she was going to go home and tell her sister about meeting with us. I'm excited. Her name is nancy.
Oh and on sunday we had to give talks in sacrament meeting. My comps was on the gospel of Jesus Christ and mine was on The conversion process and the role the spirit plays. These were assigned topics. My comp did good. I got up and started out delivering my message strong, but I knew when I was assigned the topic where it would go and what would happen to me on the stand. Sure enough I was bawling. It was a tough one, because basically the whole talk had personal relavance to me. I wasn't as nervous before as I was before my fairwell ( I guess that's what a mission does for ya.)Yeah, I cried a lot, but I looked out and I saw one of our investigators that had come to church, and she too was crying. The spirit had touched her. In my talk I shared part of a letter that I had gotten from Bill Murray. He had sent me a letter and then he had written his testimony in speech form, as if he was delivering it, six pages double spaced. I'm sending you a copy of it, even though I've had it for probably close to 3 weeks. I shared part of this and I cried a lot during parts of it. Wait till you read it. Each of our talks was supposed to be 15 min, but I looked up when I had ended and I had gone 25 min!! It went by so fast, despite the emotions. Afterward everyone thanked both of us for our talks. One lady said she really needed mine. I had a lot of people who wanted copies of Bills Testimony. We both did awesome, and that's what we needed. We saw it as an opportunity to show the ward that we were serious and to get them fired up and to get their support. The fact that the bishop gave us talks is a good sign. I wasn't expecting to be assigned to talk this soon, especially since I had bore my testimony on fast sunday (Cried there too!!) I felt good sunday. I love feeling the spirit, Sunday was Great.
So we have interviews with president tomorrow. The thing that's tough with your advice though, is that I want to make sure that I'm working hard all the time, and not wasting time either. I don't want any regrets. That's the thing he has to be willing to work. I get him to tract but he's not happy, and I think that hurts us. People can tell when you want to be there or not. He also says the same thing at every door. I mean we have had a lot of success lately, it's because of obedience, I wish he'd see that. We could have so much more success tracting though if he had a positive attitude about it, and a little faith!
Sorry enough about that. So that's cool that you talked to Brian and Stacy at Costco. That part of my life seems so foreign. I mean I've been out 3 months next week!! That's 1/8 of my mission. It goes by so fast, Missionary time is like Warp time. Read Alma 26, I love it. Glory in the Lord, for in him we truly can do all things. The lord has been so good to me, he blesses me daily, and answers my prayers. His hand is in the work throughout the world and here in Beloit. I will put my trust in the Lord forever!!!!
Love you tons Mom
Dude, that's so cool, you've almost got your eagle. Yeah, and if you keep up your running and physical fitness you really will see a difference. It's so good to hear you tell me about the olympics because it is all I can do to not watch it when we go over to a member's home or it is on somewhere. I really have to fight the temptation. I wish I could watch the olympics so bad. You guys should record some events for me, maybe some running, swimming, and soccer, so I don't feel like I missed everything. As for the weather, It's not even bad at all, and people say that august is the worst month. I think fall is just around the corner. Now when I wake up in the morning to run it's actually a little chilly. I'm scared!!!! So you're starting school again, man that went by fast. You'll love Thayne though. Tell him high for me, see what he says about me, cuz I was a little hellion then. I love you so much dude. I got your little wood chip out the other day and was looking at it. I love you tons bro. Keep working hard in school and soccer and have fun.
I just started to read your email and I read the part about talking to your leaders, and I don't think it's something I've told you but I had to stop and write you so I didn't forget. My companion is a District Leader!!! And so I think that makes it even harder for him to accept what I say, or for me to be able to talk to him, because I think he thinks that I'm just a "greeny" and have no idea what I'm talking about, and I think he thinks he's district leader and that's that. I don't think he likes hearing about obedience from a greeny.
Mom thanks for the Companionships bit. It's Genius. I got an email last wednesday back from president answering my question on music and tracting. I told him president had responded, as soon as we got in the car to leave from email. I told him we should stick to the things that we would listen to in sacrament meeting, the things we know for sure like Mormon Tabernacle Quoir until we could meet with president in a week. He was ticked, he said I'm not listening to that, we'll listen to nothing, then he drove like a crazy!!! The next day we had another companionship inventory and he got ticked at me, he said I was controlling planning, I told him that's because he just sits there and has a negative attitude and when I ask him what he wants to do or what he thinks of something he replies in a negative way or gives a pessimistic answer. We talked about a lot of the same stuff and then he blew up and swore at me and was going off. I just said ok, you plan the day lets just stop by people. I tried to help him and to compromise. It helped a little. We had exchanges on saturday with the Zone leaders. I had talked to them about some of the things and so that was their focus of the exchange. I talked to the Zone leader that I was with, and told him the things he did. He gave me some ideas on things that I could do, like planning with the spirit, and helping to strengthen my coompanions testimony. He was really down, negative, and quiet all sunday. We had successful day Monday and he was a lot happier. I was supprised maybe something happened over exchanges. Then that night he really suprised me, he came and got me to say comp prayer while I was working out. He actually beat me in getting ready for bed. Normally I go to bed and he sits downstairs playing sodoku or doing who knows what. I have no idea when he goes to bed. We had an amazing day tuesday too, we taught some great people. Some of them I think will be ready for baptism. We did service for this older widowed lady that we met tracting. Her sister is a member in California. We cleaned out her raingutters, and then she had me prune her trees and Elder Glauser finished the Gutters. It was awesome we did a ton. Afterwards her heart was completely softened. It was like Ammon and King Lamoni from the BoM. Then she said you've made a believer out of me. She couldn't believe we had come and did all that we did, and how nice we were. She tried to give us $50 each, and said, that she knew we'd put it to good use or into our church or someone who needed it. We tried to refuse. I tried to tell her Christ never accepting anything, and that this is what we did. I tried to tell her she could just pay it forward, and I explained what that was. We ended up excepting the money, and it was a good thing too because earlier that day one of investigators in the rough part of town said they were struggling with food, and they were going to shut off the lights. We thinking of how to work that. We've been trying to get a hold of the bishop. She also wanted to take us out to dinner. Again we said dinner would be enough. So we said we would go home and change and meet her at the restaurant that she wanted to go to. It was a little family restaurant, and she got all dressed up too! We talked with her a lot about the BoM and the Bible and things like that. We also talked about life, and people dying. We talked about our lives too. And then the cool thing happened, She asked us where she could get a copy of the BOM. We said oh we have them. She wanted to pay for that too. We set up an appointment when we could bring a copy by and teach her. She consented. (Again softening of the heart.) It was an awesome meeting, she is the sweetest little lady. She said she was going to go home and tell her sister about meeting with us. I'm excited. Her name is nancy.
Oh and on sunday we had to give talks in sacrament meeting. My comps was on the gospel of Jesus Christ and mine was on The conversion process and the role the spirit plays. These were assigned topics. My comp did good. I got up and started out delivering my message strong, but I knew when I was assigned the topic where it would go and what would happen to me on the stand. Sure enough I was bawling. It was a tough one, because basically the whole talk had personal relavance to me. I wasn't as nervous before as I was before my fairwell ( I guess that's what a mission does for ya.)Yeah, I cried a lot, but I looked out and I saw one of our investigators that had come to church, and she too was crying. The spirit had touched her. In my talk I shared part of a letter that I had gotten from Bill Murray. He had sent me a letter and then he had written his testimony in speech form, as if he was delivering it, six pages double spaced. I'm sending you a copy of it, even though I've had it for probably close to 3 weeks. I shared part of this and I cried a lot during parts of it. Wait till you read it. Each of our talks was supposed to be 15 min, but I looked up when I had ended and I had gone 25 min!! It went by so fast, despite the emotions. Afterward everyone thanked both of us for our talks. One lady said she really needed mine. I had a lot of people who wanted copies of Bills Testimony. We both did awesome, and that's what we needed. We saw it as an opportunity to show the ward that we were serious and to get them fired up and to get their support. The fact that the bishop gave us talks is a good sign. I wasn't expecting to be assigned to talk this soon, especially since I had bore my testimony on fast sunday (Cried there too!!) I felt good sunday. I love feeling the spirit, Sunday was Great.
So we have interviews with president tomorrow. The thing that's tough with your advice though, is that I want to make sure that I'm working hard all the time, and not wasting time either. I don't want any regrets. That's the thing he has to be willing to work. I get him to tract but he's not happy, and I think that hurts us. People can tell when you want to be there or not. He also says the same thing at every door. I mean we have had a lot of success lately, it's because of obedience, I wish he'd see that. We could have so much more success tracting though if he had a positive attitude about it, and a little faith!
Sorry enough about that. So that's cool that you talked to Brian and Stacy at Costco. That part of my life seems so foreign. I mean I've been out 3 months next week!! That's 1/8 of my mission. It goes by so fast, Missionary time is like Warp time. Read Alma 26, I love it. Glory in the Lord, for in him we truly can do all things. The lord has been so good to me, he blesses me daily, and answers my prayers. His hand is in the work throughout the world and here in Beloit. I will put my trust in the Lord forever!!!!
Love you tons Mom
Dude, that's so cool, you've almost got your eagle. Yeah, and if you keep up your running and physical fitness you really will see a difference. It's so good to hear you tell me about the olympics because it is all I can do to not watch it when we go over to a member's home or it is on somewhere. I really have to fight the temptation. I wish I could watch the olympics so bad. You guys should record some events for me, maybe some running, swimming, and soccer, so I don't feel like I missed everything. As for the weather, It's not even bad at all, and people say that august is the worst month. I think fall is just around the corner. Now when I wake up in the morning to run it's actually a little chilly. I'm scared!!!! So you're starting school again, man that went by fast. You'll love Thayne though. Tell him high for me, see what he says about me, cuz I was a little hellion then. I love you so much dude. I got your little wood chip out the other day and was looking at it. I love you tons bro. Keep working hard in school and soccer and have fun.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
August 6, 2008
K so Ally wrot me, but I'm not supposed to write her back, so just start forwarding stuff that I write that you think would be good. Maybe explain to her. Tell her it's kindof a bummer that we didn't hang out as much, playing nintendo, skateboarding, and making peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Tell her all's good in da hood.
So yeah I probably will have to send you a picture of my part. It starts a little back because of my horns. They won't lay down! I took a while for me to get the part in it, but my hair is starting to get trained. I know I never thought I would part my hair, but that's what President has asked of our mission. Kinda cool how dedication to something, and a desire to have the spirit with you, and be successful, will make you do whatever is asked of you. Tell sister merril thank you again for her donation, which I know is greatly appreciated. You promise you'll let me know if things get tight, so you can use my money, OK! This whiskey barrel thing sounds pretty cool, I hope I'm not too old to jump on it. Yeah school starts early, that's a rip off! What Classes is T-bone taking, and when does he start? As for the dentist, I would have to go on a P-day, find a dentist that takes our insurance, and then I guess that I would just use that insurance card you gave me. I don't know, I would have to ask sister Stoddard how that all works. The soccer idea sounds amazing, tons of fun too. And yeah that sounds like Sparta, really stuck up! I will be on for probably another hour till 12:40 or 1:40 my time so 11:40 or 12:40 your time. We are playing basketball at the Church with our district at 3:30 in Rockford so we have to leave at like three. So hurry on.Anyway yeah this week was good. Time still flies by. So I did email Pres Stoddard about it and he wrote me back, but we're going to talk about it in our regular interview. That's not the big thing though. The day after I wrote you we have planning, which is every thursday. So thursday at the end of planning you're supposed to have companionship inventory. Basically talk about the relationship you have with your companion, things that are keeping you from being obedient, strengths and weaknesses etc. So I had thought about just bucking up and keeping it in but I brought it out. I talked to him about his music, about him not wanting to tract. I told him how I was out here to work, and how I felt about my mission and missionary work. He isn't really happy as a missionary, and isn't really loving it. It didn't see the point in some rules. I told him it's not for us to decide if there's a point in the rule. It was a long pow-wow, he thought I had some "Holier than thou attitude." Which I refuted. It was a good little session, we got all this stuff out on the table. I pulled out preach my gospel and shared different parts about being obedient. I probably talked a ton about obedience. We closed with a prayer and gave each other a big hug. Everything is not fixed though, but we have a good relationship and we are stronger because of this experience. We have more understanding of each other. I pray for him to be happy and obedient. It's kinda funny looking back on this, because we had exchanges this week also. The elder that I went with is hard worker and obedient, and he talked about this other elder that was in the mission that was dedicated and obedient, and that a lot of missionaries that served with him went home because that didn't want to do that. This elder that I was with told me how the other elder had stated that: "Coming out on my mission I didn't think that I would have to defend my beliefs to other missionaries." That's how I felt. I thought I would be teaching and defending my testimony against other people, not the people that are supposed to be fighting beside me! It's all good though we are getting better on things. Anyway enough about that stuff. I mentioned that we had exchanges. That is probably the notable event this week. I went to Rockford and My comp stayed in Beloit. So in Rockford we went tracting on the West Side. This is way more Ghetto than our area!!! Rockford is the 2nd biggest city in Illinois. So we're tracting in this area, and we rode our bikes(I wasn't on my nice one it was in beloit). We are talking to this one black lady, (Everyone's black in this part), who runs a convenience store out of her front door in her house. Black kids are coming up and buying soda, chips, all sorts of stuff and a few are hanging out in her front yard. Then as I'm standing there talking to her about the gospel, this guy in his twenties gets a single cigarette and hands it to this 14 year old kid in the front yard by the steps!!! This was definately an intense area, and a different eye opening experience. We set up a lot of return appointments here though. So the next day we had to come back here again on our bikes. So we go to our appointment and teach the lesson. Then as we come out and we are unlocking our bikes a policeman in his patrol car pulls up to us. He asks where we are are from, and basically what we are doing. We explained that we were missionaries. He essentially came across as "Do you know where you are at?" He asked how much longer we were going to be here. We told him we were just getting to go back for dinner. He told us "over there is the fair grounds and then everything west of that, over here,........is not a safe place to be." He asked us if we had a cell phone on us, which we did. He told us not to hesitate to call if anything happened. I kept waiting for him to say flat out "Boys you are in the Projects, and we have gotten word that a shooting is about to go down in the area: GET OUT OF HERE!" We headed back to the apartment. My comp that I was on exchanges with, Elder Bird, said, "You know I see that as a warning, and you know we are protected by the Spirit, but only if we heed the warnings." He said, " I think that was a warning, I think it was a good thing we left. Yeah pretty intense life in da' Hood. It was a good exchange though, reminded me of the city. Their apartment is on the 3 floor of a 15 story building, and we contacted people on the street and at the bus station (You can't do that in Beloit, no people on the street) It was fun though talking to tons of people, setting up tons of appointments even though they weren't for my area. Exchanges went from monday after lunch till Tuesday night. I got some Ideas from Elder Bird on how to help my companion.Oh and on saturday we helped this Black family move. He was a referral from some other missionaries. He drives this nice Lincoln Aviator. Anyway we helped him move most of saturday. He was so greatful for our help. I tore part of my pocket and had to stitch it by hand (It's not bad, It's no Betty Homemaker, but it's not too delinquint). We moved a ton, I was in the car with him and Elder Glauser was in the truch with the other guy. I got a chance to talk to him about what missionaries do. He asked questions about us and our beliefs, and I got to share with him basically the first lesson in a nut shell. It was Awesome, he really had a lot of admiration. Our service, and talking to him softened his heart. He wants to sit down with us this weekend. Latter that night HE CALLED US. To thank us again, investigators never call us. We usually have to call them, unless they are close to baptism. This other big guy that pulled up on harley helped us move. He was this huge black guy, he reminded me of the guy off of "The Green Mile" just a big animal. He could deffinately kill me in one punch. Anyway this family looks very prospective and I'm anxious to get a chance to work with them. Get on the internet so we can talk.
Hey sorry, I haven't written just to you. I kindof write to all the multitude. Anyway I love ya tons Dad. The dads and a lot of their sons here in the Beloit ward just got back from a scout campout, where they earned merit badges. Then the High Adventure group is getting ready to go out on the big backpacking trip up by one of the Great Lakes! How cool would that be. Anyway it reminded me of camping, I wanted to go camping so bad. I remembered all our camping outings, and our backpacking trip in the Tetons, and I talked to them a little about it. Dad, we deffinately have to go on a backpacking trip when I get back. So how's everything going at work? Is the Hernia still ok? Dad I pray for you and for Mom every night. You're the man! I haven't heard from you in a while, so write me back. Remember the good times ,I love ya tons Dad.
Your Eldest
P.S. -Can you still do buckin' bull?
So you're hittin' up the Eagle project, Nice! It sounds like it should be a huge success. I want to hear all about it. How's Gus doing? So I still have that little wood Chip that you gave me in my backpack. I think it's pretty cool. I didn't get a letter from you this week though. So I heard you start school on the 18th, that's pretty soon. Summer went by fast, I went into the MTC when you were still in school and now you're getting ready to start again. You're in 8th grade now, and you're turning 13 right? A lot of the families that we meet with or have dinner with have a kid that's the same age as you, and I always tell them, "You're the same age as my little brother." So how's your running going. Are you getting buff? Oh and this year girls will try to mess with you. Don't fall for it stay strong. I mean, go to dances have fun hang out with lot's of different girls, but REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE. Stand strong, because that Jr. High has probably turned into Vice City. If you can develop a love for the scriptures early, that would be awesome, because I know I didn't. Keep writing me about the Firesides that you go to.I love you tons "REEF," I hope it's ok that I still call you that, I do it out of love, and that's how I know you. You take it easy alright!With Love From DA' HOOD, Elder Adams
Are We safe? How's it going. Do you still talk to Katie? You didn't write me any words from T-Bone. I was in the Ghetto in Rockford this monday and tuesday, and I saw a sweet ghetto cruiser. There are some sweet rims down here. Anyway you better write me back ya hoser.
The pull up bar, Yes. Thank you so much. No it was the pocket on my white shirt. We went in pros. You're supposed to be in it as much as possible, members especially aren't supposed to see you out of it. So we moved in our shirts and ties. Yeah I got the email about gavin's little thing. Pretty intense. So I guess he has sent me that, but that doesn't count, he has to write something.
So yeah I probably will have to send you a picture of my part. It starts a little back because of my horns. They won't lay down! I took a while for me to get the part in it, but my hair is starting to get trained. I know I never thought I would part my hair, but that's what President has asked of our mission. Kinda cool how dedication to something, and a desire to have the spirit with you, and be successful, will make you do whatever is asked of you. Tell sister merril thank you again for her donation, which I know is greatly appreciated. You promise you'll let me know if things get tight, so you can use my money, OK! This whiskey barrel thing sounds pretty cool, I hope I'm not too old to jump on it. Yeah school starts early, that's a rip off! What Classes is T-bone taking, and when does he start? As for the dentist, I would have to go on a P-day, find a dentist that takes our insurance, and then I guess that I would just use that insurance card you gave me. I don't know, I would have to ask sister Stoddard how that all works. The soccer idea sounds amazing, tons of fun too. And yeah that sounds like Sparta, really stuck up! I will be on for probably another hour till 12:40 or 1:40 my time so 11:40 or 12:40 your time. We are playing basketball at the Church with our district at 3:30 in Rockford so we have to leave at like three. So hurry on.Anyway yeah this week was good. Time still flies by. So I did email Pres Stoddard about it and he wrote me back, but we're going to talk about it in our regular interview. That's not the big thing though. The day after I wrote you we have planning, which is every thursday. So thursday at the end of planning you're supposed to have companionship inventory. Basically talk about the relationship you have with your companion, things that are keeping you from being obedient, strengths and weaknesses etc. So I had thought about just bucking up and keeping it in but I brought it out. I talked to him about his music, about him not wanting to tract. I told him how I was out here to work, and how I felt about my mission and missionary work. He isn't really happy as a missionary, and isn't really loving it. It didn't see the point in some rules. I told him it's not for us to decide if there's a point in the rule. It was a long pow-wow, he thought I had some "Holier than thou attitude." Which I refuted. It was a good little session, we got all this stuff out on the table. I pulled out preach my gospel and shared different parts about being obedient. I probably talked a ton about obedience. We closed with a prayer and gave each other a big hug. Everything is not fixed though, but we have a good relationship and we are stronger because of this experience. We have more understanding of each other. I pray for him to be happy and obedient. It's kinda funny looking back on this, because we had exchanges this week also. The elder that I went with is hard worker and obedient, and he talked about this other elder that was in the mission that was dedicated and obedient, and that a lot of missionaries that served with him went home because that didn't want to do that. This elder that I was with told me how the other elder had stated that: "Coming out on my mission I didn't think that I would have to defend my beliefs to other missionaries." That's how I felt. I thought I would be teaching and defending my testimony against other people, not the people that are supposed to be fighting beside me! It's all good though we are getting better on things. Anyway enough about that stuff. I mentioned that we had exchanges. That is probably the notable event this week. I went to Rockford and My comp stayed in Beloit. So in Rockford we went tracting on the West Side. This is way more Ghetto than our area!!! Rockford is the 2nd biggest city in Illinois. So we're tracting in this area, and we rode our bikes(I wasn't on my nice one it was in beloit). We are talking to this one black lady, (Everyone's black in this part), who runs a convenience store out of her front door in her house. Black kids are coming up and buying soda, chips, all sorts of stuff and a few are hanging out in her front yard. Then as I'm standing there talking to her about the gospel, this guy in his twenties gets a single cigarette and hands it to this 14 year old kid in the front yard by the steps!!! This was definately an intense area, and a different eye opening experience. We set up a lot of return appointments here though. So the next day we had to come back here again on our bikes. So we go to our appointment and teach the lesson. Then as we come out and we are unlocking our bikes a policeman in his patrol car pulls up to us. He asks where we are are from, and basically what we are doing. We explained that we were missionaries. He essentially came across as "Do you know where you are at?" He asked how much longer we were going to be here. We told him we were just getting to go back for dinner. He told us "over there is the fair grounds and then everything west of that, over here,........is not a safe place to be." He asked us if we had a cell phone on us, which we did. He told us not to hesitate to call if anything happened. I kept waiting for him to say flat out "Boys you are in the Projects, and we have gotten word that a shooting is about to go down in the area: GET OUT OF HERE!" We headed back to the apartment. My comp that I was on exchanges with, Elder Bird, said, "You know I see that as a warning, and you know we are protected by the Spirit, but only if we heed the warnings." He said, " I think that was a warning, I think it was a good thing we left. Yeah pretty intense life in da' Hood. It was a good exchange though, reminded me of the city. Their apartment is on the 3 floor of a 15 story building, and we contacted people on the street and at the bus station (You can't do that in Beloit, no people on the street) It was fun though talking to tons of people, setting up tons of appointments even though they weren't for my area. Exchanges went from monday after lunch till Tuesday night. I got some Ideas from Elder Bird on how to help my companion.Oh and on saturday we helped this Black family move. He was a referral from some other missionaries. He drives this nice Lincoln Aviator. Anyway we helped him move most of saturday. He was so greatful for our help. I tore part of my pocket and had to stitch it by hand (It's not bad, It's no Betty Homemaker, but it's not too delinquint). We moved a ton, I was in the car with him and Elder Glauser was in the truch with the other guy. I got a chance to talk to him about what missionaries do. He asked questions about us and our beliefs, and I got to share with him basically the first lesson in a nut shell. It was Awesome, he really had a lot of admiration. Our service, and talking to him softened his heart. He wants to sit down with us this weekend. Latter that night HE CALLED US. To thank us again, investigators never call us. We usually have to call them, unless they are close to baptism. This other big guy that pulled up on harley helped us move. He was this huge black guy, he reminded me of the guy off of "The Green Mile" just a big animal. He could deffinately kill me in one punch. Anyway this family looks very prospective and I'm anxious to get a chance to work with them. Get on the internet so we can talk.
Hey sorry, I haven't written just to you. I kindof write to all the multitude. Anyway I love ya tons Dad. The dads and a lot of their sons here in the Beloit ward just got back from a scout campout, where they earned merit badges. Then the High Adventure group is getting ready to go out on the big backpacking trip up by one of the Great Lakes! How cool would that be. Anyway it reminded me of camping, I wanted to go camping so bad. I remembered all our camping outings, and our backpacking trip in the Tetons, and I talked to them a little about it. Dad, we deffinately have to go on a backpacking trip when I get back. So how's everything going at work? Is the Hernia still ok? Dad I pray for you and for Mom every night. You're the man! I haven't heard from you in a while, so write me back. Remember the good times ,I love ya tons Dad.
Your Eldest
P.S. -Can you still do buckin' bull?
So you're hittin' up the Eagle project, Nice! It sounds like it should be a huge success. I want to hear all about it. How's Gus doing? So I still have that little wood Chip that you gave me in my backpack. I think it's pretty cool. I didn't get a letter from you this week though. So I heard you start school on the 18th, that's pretty soon. Summer went by fast, I went into the MTC when you were still in school and now you're getting ready to start again. You're in 8th grade now, and you're turning 13 right? A lot of the families that we meet with or have dinner with have a kid that's the same age as you, and I always tell them, "You're the same age as my little brother." So how's your running going. Are you getting buff? Oh and this year girls will try to mess with you. Don't fall for it stay strong. I mean, go to dances have fun hang out with lot's of different girls, but REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE. Stand strong, because that Jr. High has probably turned into Vice City. If you can develop a love for the scriptures early, that would be awesome, because I know I didn't. Keep writing me about the Firesides that you go to.I love you tons "REEF," I hope it's ok that I still call you that, I do it out of love, and that's how I know you. You take it easy alright!With Love From DA' HOOD, Elder Adams
Are We safe? How's it going. Do you still talk to Katie? You didn't write me any words from T-Bone. I was in the Ghetto in Rockford this monday and tuesday, and I saw a sweet ghetto cruiser. There are some sweet rims down here. Anyway you better write me back ya hoser.
The pull up bar, Yes. Thank you so much. No it was the pocket on my white shirt. We went in pros. You're supposed to be in it as much as possible, members especially aren't supposed to see you out of it. So we moved in our shirts and ties. Yeah I got the email about gavin's little thing. Pretty intense. So I guess he has sent me that, but that doesn't count, he has to write something.
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