September 10, 2008

Dude, you're almost 14. We're working with a family, that the mom just got baptised, and the daughter who's in 8th grade and dad are going to get baptised also. I'm sending pictures of the family. The mom got baptised 2 weeks ago. So I'm working on your birthday present, so don't think I forgot you ok reef. I have moms but I want to send them both. You gotta remember, I'm in Beloit now and not the city, so I don't have all of these cool shops and stores to go to. You'll love it when you get it though. You're awesome dude, and happy birthday. I hope you are having fun and working hard in school. Thanks for bearing your testimony to me. You're a good kid, and I love ya tons.
Keep trying in keyboarding. I know she's a crazy lady. One time I put contact solution in my eyes in her class to make it look like I was crying. I pretended to be frustrated. I loved to mess with her. One time she asked me if I should be on medication. It was hilarious. You just have to deal with her though. Sounds like you're a ladies man too.I loved your testimony, it was simple but contained power and authority within the truthfulness of the doctrine you testified of. You could come out and be my companion any day and I'd take ya. Your testimony could bring many souls unto Christ. It's so good to know that you look up to me bro. that gives me added courage to do what is right. Always remember spencer that you are one of our father in heavens sons, Jesus Christ is our brother that we look to. Remember you hold the Aaronic priesthood and are a heir to his throne. You have duties and responsibilities in holding this priesthood. Always ensure that your life is in harmony with gospel so that you are always worthy to exercise that authority. Your Savior Jesus Christ loves you very much, you can always repent, he bled from every pore so that we could return to live with him. Greater love hath no man. Don't ever let any drop of his precious blood fall unnoticed. The atonement is there for us to use and apply in our lives. The Savior is there for you, he is conscious of your every need, your every pain, he wants to put his arm around you and be with you. Be an example to those around you. You have something that people in this world need and want. It is a precious gift from our heavenly father. You and I were truly blessed to be born in this dispensation and into this church. I am out here to invite others and to share this blessing with people. That is why I am here, to open the gates of heaven and let our brothers and sisters in. This Church, of which we are members is true, Joseph Smith is a Prophet, and the Book of Mormon is true. I have seen the gospel change the lives of people. I have seen what happiness it brings, and it brings me joy to see them happy. This Church is true and living. As it lives in the lives of members and as it grows in the lives of those I teach. I love this work, Gods work, I love being a missionary, I love the Savior, and I love you. I bear you this humble and solemn testimony in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.
So I love this Blog idea, and then making it into a book. It sounds cool, and it sounds like everyone is having a lot of fun. So I'm still in Beloit. The new companion, Elder McCleery is awesome. He's from Bountiful, and he's 6'-4." Deffinately a good one to have with me when we are down in the rougher areas. He really is great though. He runs with me in the morning, he's obedient, hardworking, and he's hilarious. The work will surge forth with this new change. I can't say enough good things about this one. Potentially a favorite. We were teaching a bunch of girls on their porch in the "hood" and they said that he looked like Napolean Dynamite. He is tall and lurpy, but I love him!! The spirit is with us, and we teach well, with power and authority. We are like Alma and Amulek together. This companionship was ordained before the world was!!!
The baptism went ok. So as I said she asked me to perform it. I told Donya before we went to the font how the baptism would go, how to hold her hands etc. I went down into the font and greeted her. After I said the prayer I went baptise her and as she was going down she panicked and popped back before she had even touched the water. She's a bigger black lady, and so this posed a small problem. She looked terrified. She hadn't said anything about being afraid of the water, in fact she was excited for her baptism. I tried a few more times after trying to calm her and comfort her. However every time the same thing happened. Here I was standing in the water with Donya, who was obviously in worried, and 30+ people staring at me in the font. I was dying, I had tried talking to her, I had no idea what to do. Then this man from the High council came and knelt by the font and spoke quietly to Donya and I. He instructed us that we did not have to do it traditionally, but that she could sit or knee down and then lay back the rest of the way. I waited a moment for her to calm down, for peace to enter, and then I said the prayer again, and then slowly I helped her as she knelt down and layed back. She plugged her nose and as she went back she began to float. I pushed her down just as her feet rose. She came back up and looked great!!! I looked to the witnesses and received the ok. Wow, that was a little nerve wracking. I was so worried that her baptismal experience had not gone well. However as I went to change my new comp came in and assured me that all was well. I had forgotten a towel though and so I had to use paper towels. Other people said that it went well also, and one of the members said that I had handled it very well. That I was tender in helping her. That's what I was hoping for. I definately want to prepare those being baptised more. I felt comforted that she did have a great experience, and that it was a day that she will remember. She did have a good experience after all.

I'm sending pictures home of the two baptisms and of life here in Beloit. I have your B-day present, but I'm waiting until I get spencer's so I'm waiting. I want to wish you a happy birthday though mom, and I love you a lot. One night we got to talking with a member family about our families and moms. I realize how much you did for me, and it was all for me. You did everything! I ended up sharing with them that night the scripture about the 2000 stripling warriors and how their mothers had taught them. I like to think that I am one of God's soldiers now, in the army of Helamen. I am a stripling warrior, and I have a mother that taught me in my youth. I have a mother that raised me up, and now I am in the service of God and my fellow men. Here in the war against satan. I love you mom, thank you for all that you do.
Love you tons Elder Adams

Oh and the colors are starting to change. It is getting cold in the morning when I run. It has rained a lot and been cold. I used the heater in the car for the first time, saw my breath, and I have worn both of my sweaters. I think I'm done with short sleeves. The days are deffinately getting colder. I am terrified that winter is coming. I think it's time to think about a coat. Luckily I had bought a cheap hoodie at wal-mart the other day that I used. My comp and I have been doing a lot of biking lately to save some miles. We even biked on this day that it rained from before we woke up to when we went to bed. We only biked part of that day and got soaked out tracting, but the Lord blessed us and we found an awesome investigator. I also got a flat tire the other day, so that's what the debit card charge is. I had to buy a new tube and patch kit. I basically outfitted myself so I'll never get stranded with a flat again!! I'm also thinking about buying a gps, we got lost going to Rockford. I basically have to show my comp where to go since I've been here in the area. Anyway the coat and gps could probably be potential birthday ideas, because I'm surviving with finding my way around. I just think if I didn't have to waste time with a map I could be more effective and get to places faster. Anyway that's The Happenings, love ya tons.