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.