December 10, 2008

Bro. Thank you for your inspiration and love. I can't believe you look up to me though. The thing you have to understand and you will soon once you're on your mission, is that it's not me that's making these things happen. It's not me that is saying these things to these people. There is something different about when you are a missionary,and you will feel it. Like I've said before it's like you walk with Savior each day. There is just a different feeling about you when you are a missionary, and being obedient (That is the key obedience, don't you ever let your comps tell you differently) the spirit is the key it's the spirit that makes things like this happen, and obedience is how we have the spirit with us. I can't really tell you how it is when you are a missionary, but you will understand. Why do you think I love being a missionary so much, and fear going home and not being a missionary, because of how you feel. The closeness you have with the spirit, it's different. I'm glad that you are excited for your mission, because you should be, it's the greatest time in my life. You really touched me with your words though. AS for the cold, I'm doing ok. Those boots are great so is everything else. I just bundle up like I'm going to Everest and do the work. It's awesome, I'm surviving the cold. Plus like I told you, the Spirit is the greatest heat source!!! Thanks for picking out some great gear Bro. I look forward to hearing from you. Love you tons.

Elder Adams

No I do not have a fax machine, and I can't go to any other websites. You'll have to send me this 21 days of Christ thing. Write me back I'm online, but I don't have forever today, we are going Christmas Shopping!!!!!!
Well you're my hero for dealing with all those rugrats at the school. Anyway I paid my ticket and I bought my ticket for the Bulls Game. It was about $55.
You asked last week why I was buying thermals. I actually didn't buy any yet. I'm doing pretty good, so I'll hold out, but I imagine in Jan. or Feb. (Everyone says this is when it gets bad), that I'll have to double up on the legs.
Bud, is that the only thing that you are looking forward to this Christmans is talking to me. I've only been gone a couple of hours. It's good to hear the mullet is shaven though. That's also way cool that Bro. Brighton is your visiting teacher. The snow on all the trees and the buildings is really cool, actually. I've also decided that snow is a good thing, it's warmer then. It kinda looks like a scene from the show Seinfield with all the snow and the busy streets. The Holiday's deffinately are different on a mission though. Thank you for your testimony, it is an added strength to me. You are a good little bro. I think I'll keep ya. I wouldn't trade ya for anyone. Keep working hard in school, and just know that you are always in my prayers. Love your Big Bro. from the frozen arctic of Chicago,
Elder Adams
Yeah that was hilarious. He wouldn't have found my dead body though. He would have found me in someones home teaching or smiling on someone's doorstep all bundled up like a hermit. I just put a bunch of stuff on and zip all the way up and put my hood of my south pole coat on. I'm packed in, and those boots are killer. Then I go out and I testify. I love it!!!
Yeah they did. A bunch of other missionaries from the city are going. We all got seats on the same row, it's going to be a party!!! President has approved city missionaries to go to the game.
The snow continues to fall, and it never gets above freezing during the day so it doesn't really melt. Last night was intense the snow was blowing and the roads were slick and weren't getting plowed. Most days it's in the teens, the temperature usually stays around 15 Degrees!! So the baptism this past Saturday didn't go through. We are having problems with the bishop allowing her to be baptised into his ward. I've spent several nights the phone for a long time with President Stoddard. President has been speaking with the Stake President all sorts of business. She lives just outside the ward boundaries, but when we started teaching her we got it all approved with president and he went and talked to the Stake president and got things worked out and gave us the go ahead. So I was lost as to why the bishop didn't like it. He canceled the baptism and said it was because there were too many events at the church that weekend, and now has told our ward mission leader that he doesn't feel comfortable with her being baptised into the ward when she lives outside. (Key NOTE: she's also moving into this ward in April, and president told this to the Stake President when we got the ok). It's a huge hastle and she keeps asking me when the baptism is so I don't know what is going to happen. On the bright side though this Saturday Ricardo, a 22 year old Haitian will be baptised into the singles branch that we are over!!! It should be awesome. This guy is amazing, his spirit and faith are incredible. He doesn't even want to take the sacrament until he is baptised. He wants it to be special. He has told us some stories about life in Haiti. He asked me to baptize him and my comp to confirm him. This is going to be an exciting baptism. As for the Question about baptisms, I have no baptisms. The spirit has converted people though. As for me though I have not baptised anyone. It is the spirit, and our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that have converted people.At Church on Sunday, Rosali, the lady I told you about last week. She got up in Testimony meeting and bore her testimony!!! I was sitting there looking at the ground and then I looked up and she was a few feet from the pulpit. I thought "No way, she's going to bear her testimony." I was surprised because she is shy and doesn't like to pray when it's just us in our lessons. Nevertheless in her beautiful Jamaican accent she recounted the Night Elder Rainey and I knocked on her door and how she was searching for something. It was incredible. She was the most popular human being in that chapel after sacrament. Everyone was basically forming a line to go up and talk to her. She then told us after what had made her go up. She said she was sitting there and she started shaking. (My comp and I were a few rows in front of her) She didn't know why she was shaking, but her daughter asked her, "Mom what's wrong?" and then her daughter told her, "You need to get up there and testify." So she did. I mean the things the Lord does for people are amazing. She felt the spirit, that was the spirit testifying to her, it moved her, and acted on her body. I'm so glad she felt it. She came to the Prophets Christmas address with us that night, so we were able to go!!So that man that I wrote about in my letter last week... we have met with him two more times and the lessons have been incredible. He has said some incredible things, some funny things too (You have to keep in mind that he has Chicago 'Blackness') I love it he's awesome. He said, " This Church has to be cool" after he had just ended talking about how he loved some of the points of doctrine we had shared with him. He went on to tell us "I've been waiting for you for a long time." He said, "For the 1st time I feel like I'm close with God." "It's a Euphoric high when you guys leave." Josh said he felt the spirit when he read what I had recounted in my letter. Now imagine being there. Eddy has felt the spirit, the things that he is describing the spirit, I wish he knew it isn't us. I'm so happy that he feels the spirit and recognizes it. He aslo talked about wanting a change and being thirsty in his search. I feel like this whole experience is something out of an Ensign magazine. We taught him the Plan of Salvation last Week and he had a lot to say about how much he loved it, how he had been pondering it for days, how he had been calling people and telling them about it!!! He also told me to tell you something mom. He told us what he was thinking when I pulled out the Plan of Salvation puzzle to begin teaching he said he thought, "Hey they got some Legos like my kid." He told me to tell you, mom, that "That made and impact on my life." He loved the Puzzle! He also said, "If you'd a pulled that puzzle out I know my mom woulda got that." I could tell he wished that his mother had heard these things and could have found the joy that he has found. Thank you so much for that mom, from Eddy and I both. He then told us, "I'm an inch away from being a Mormon." We had a great lesson after he had expressed his excitement and then I extended the commitment to him to be baptised. He paused for a while and there was silence, then quietly he said yeah. Another quiet pause, and then repeatedly said yeah, yeah, yeah. It was incredible. His baptismal date is on January 3rd. What a way to start off the New Year. What better Christmas gift could someone get than the gift from our Savior of being clean through the Atonement and the waters of Baptism. He's so excited. I am humbled to see the work of the Lord, and to see the joy that it can bring into one of his children's lives. He told us something his grandfather used to say that I thought was profound. He said, "What is it for a soldier to go onto a battle field and forget why he is there...You gear up with the sword and the Shield." He then related this to us, and told us how we were in a fight for people's souls. This is so true, I know why I'm here, I know what the Lord has done for me, I know this Church is True, and that the message I share is true. I know it will bless peoples live's. I know I'm on the right battlefield, fighting for the right side. I know why I'm on this battlefield. The Lord will not let me forget, I will not forget. I really am out here fighting a war. I have been given a sword and a shield. The Lord has prepared and equipped me, I am geared up and ready. For Eddy's sake, for those out there like Eddy, for the Lord's sake, I am out here, I will fight. All those who enlist will be qualified and Lord will direct his valiant soldiers in the field of battle. I leave this Testimony with you, from the mission field, In our captain of our salvations name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
You could deffinately send me some Herbal tea. Ive been looking for some. You have to get the fruit ones that dad has, raspery, strawberry, those ones. I think sometimes they are "Zingers" also. Pres. sent us a letter about calls today. HE said they are canceling them this year, but that we will be able to call home now on Halloween and April Fool's day. Did you get that. Ha ha ha. No he said we have to do it before 7 am or after 7 pm if we are using a mission cell phone. I need to ask him what if we are to use a members phone.
Ok. I gotta get going we got a busy P-Day ahead of us. Good to write to ya. Say high to everyone. Oh and see if you can't get me Andrew and Russels mission office addresses. I should probably write them for Christmas. See ya and Love ya tons.