January 14, 2009

That is tough, I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to have to come home from my mission early. How's he doing now? Tell him he's in my prayers, because I know that would strip any Elder to the bone. As far as my health goes, I think I'm doing ok. I'll keep you posted on anything that happens, because I trust your judgement. Elder Brown and I are going to try and stop by khobie at the sushi place today since it's been a while since we visited him. We figured he did tell us to come back, he did serve a full time mission, and he is excommunicated. So we think we'll go by today, we might be having sushi again. As far as the cold goes, It was 3 degrees last night, yeah. The only way that I know I'm surviving this is because the Lord is with me. When I was back home I died at 20 degrees. I think the Lord is strengthing my heart and blood so that I can stay warm. It literally is a miracle to be able to endure this cold. It's supposed to get colder the rest of the week. The snow also keeps coming, it's pretty intense. I wrote a big letter home last week about the bulls game, see if you can get it from mom. Thanks for writing to me dad. It means a lot to hear from you. I love you so much. Keep writing to me. Oh here's some scriptures for you.
> Revelations 4:20-21- This has a lot of application to me and the Lord. I once turned my back on him and kept him outside, and he stayed and waited with and outstretched for me to turn to him again and to let him in. I now stand on a cold, frozen doorstep and wait for people to let me in. Except these people don't know that it's not me that they are turning away, or letting in, it's the Savior.
> Enos 1:26-27 My testimony is contained in a great deal in these verses. I just read them this morning. Pay close attention to the last sentence in verse 26. This is how I feel about my mission. This has brought the most happiness to me. Then in verse 27 see if you can close your eyes and envision this day for yourself. I look forward to this day...... my Savior waits for me. Well Dad you are the Patriarch of the home. Study these scriptures, pray about them, and I challenge you to prepare a lesson for FHE, and share them with the rest of the family. I've learned that the Father of the home and only the father can receive a special kind of revelation for his whole family. No one else in the family can do that but the father. Seek out the revelation for our family dad, you are the key, and then teach them. The rest of the family won't get these scriptures or the revelation you receive unless you give it to them. I love you dad, you are a great example. Love you tons,
Elder Adams

Reply From President
Dear Elder Adams,
Thank you for the question in your letter about how we can find balance between our finding efforts, our teaching efforts, our work with recent converts, and our work with less-actives. The only way to find balance between these, and other proselyting activities, is through more effective daily and weekly planning sessions. We must be very careful how we allocate our time as we plan for each day during our nightly planning sessions, and we must be careful during our weekly planning session to make sure that balance is achieved in our proselyting efforts. The way to do that is to set a goal for the time we feel should be spent on the different activities, and then plan how those goals will be achieved. It is no more complicated than that. Thank you for the good work you and Elder Brown are doing in the North Shore 1st Ward.
Sincerely,
President Stoddard
So I told dad that last night it was 3 Degrees and that it is supposed to be getting colder as the week goes on. That's interesting that you've mentioned that Andrew has grown. I didn't think it would be possible to grow much in the time we've been out, but I've noticed that some of my pants don't go down all the way. I think I might measure myself to see if I've grown. My pants just seem shorter than they were when I left. I don't know if MR. MAC left any material to be let out though. I've kindof been putting that off and getting a pair of my suit pants dry cleaned. Oh that and I haven't replaced my toothbrush. That's right same one the whole time. I've been needing to get a new one, and this morning my companion just gave me one out of a pack of 5 that he had. This has been a great week. We've got about two and half weeks till Eddy's baptism, I'm so excited. He asked me to do the baptism and my companion to do the confirmation. Which reminds me I am supposed to tell you from him that "The puzzle clinched it for me, always remember to tell your mom that." Think about that mom, all that time that the puzzle was sitting on our speaker, just sitting there. I didn't want to serve a mission, and now everytime I get it out to teach that lesson I have to reflect on the thought. Who would have ever thought that I would be using this puzzle and sharing the gospel with people. I wouldn't have placed myself there. We have also began teaching a couple in there fifties. Richard and Rosi Castillo. I still remember the Sunday I met them and the exact spot, about 2 weeks ago on a sunday. It was the day Elder Brown wasn't too happy. They were walking into the apartment complex on the sidewalk as we were walking out and I stopped and talked to them. Wow, you wouldn't believe some of the things Rosi has been through, and how much the Lord has been preparing them for this message. We have had some great experiences with them. When we taught the Plan of Salvation Richard really liked the puzzle and asked where he could get one, because he said that his daughters have been starting to have and interest in religion. He said the puzzle had helped him to understand it, and so he thought it might help them. Mom it's incredible, it's like you're out here on my mission with me. It's like I carry around you in my backpack. Think of it that way. Do think there would be any way that I could get you to send out a puzzle for Eddy's baptism, and one for the Castillo's (they are progressing along)? Maybe send out a couple others too, so that I could give them to those that are baptised. This is going to be a great story, a great part of my mission: The Puzzle That Mom sent out...Eddy can't wait to go to the temple also. He said he wants it to be the Salt Lake City Temple. We've already started talking about him being able to come out and visit us and go through the Temple with our whole family. You wait till you meet him. The Castillo's have actually invited us over this Friday to have dinner with them before we have our lesson. He related it to the disciples being able to share a meal with Christ, and so he wanted to have us share a meal with him. They are so nice. They had such a good time at Church too, it was so good to see Rosi happy and smiling. I had to just pause and stand by myself and look out over the ward members talking to Richard and Rosi, and how everyone was happy. I felt so good, this is the joy of the work: seeing others happy. I try to soak in every minute of it everyday. I'm a missionary... it still seems sureal. None the less I am a missionary, I'm here in the service of my Lord and my God. What more could I ask for. I know this Church is true, this work this true work must go forward to all. I have been, called, chosen, and commisioned by a living prophet of God who is directed by the Savior. I know this to be true. The book of Mormon is the word of God, and the greatest tool in companionship with the spirit that we have for helping people recognize the truth. I know this is true. I am so grateful to be out here. The Lord was kind enough to keep me in his sight and to wait for me to come around. Now I can only stive and try to repay him for this and for the countless drops of blood that he let fall to the ground, just because he loved me. I can only try to give him a portion of this back. I love him, he's a brother and friend to me. The greatest comforter. If you every feel alone, downtrodden, saddened, beckon to him, and he will come and sit with you a while. He'll take the empty seat next to you, he'll speak the words of comfort to your hear that you need to hear. That is his work, and he will gladly do it time and time again. I leave you with this true testimony or which I have felt personal account of in my life in my Savior and Friend's name who is Jesus Christ Amen.
I love you tons Family,
Elder Adams
HEy mom how is it going. I sent zach a final letter before he leaves.
Oh I set it up in the mtc and that was my missionary identification number there.
You can probably expect some pictures from me soon. I'm going to try and put them on a disc today.
How is school going for josh now. I didn't hear from him.
Oh I asked him about how we balance time with tracting, lessons, and less active work. because a lot of the time our lessons take up most of our time, so I was basically trying to figure out whether we go out to the less actives with what little time or tract. I feel we need to keep up our tracting, but at the same time not a lot of less active work gets done.
Are you serious so he could have his call by february. what did he put for=his date available.
YEah that is so cool about josh's papers. Tell him to hand tough in the schoolwork. He did his papers in like 3 weeks didn't he??
I gotta go we have a lot of stuff to do today. Love ya tons look for me around 10:30 my time next week. See ya latter. Herbal tea is awesome!!