January 21, 2009

Bud that sounds so awesome. It's good to hear that things are going great in mission prep. I've often thought about, and talked with investigators out here, about you and how you are doing things in a different way than me. At first I thought I was behind, but you know those experiences that I went through and had I needed to have, my path is different. I think you are going to be greatly prepared. The first time I taught the first discussion was in the MTC, so you have one more under your belt. You'll do great, the important thing to remember is to trust in the Lord, and in the Spirit, he will give you the things that you are to say. It's not our talents or abilities that qualify us it's the Lord's will, so I know that you will do great. Just keep preparing and doing your best and the Lord will make everything happen. 
Have you met with the Stake President? Once you meet with him then they send the papers into salt lake and your two week countdown till you get your call starts. Let me know if you've met with the Stake President, that's when your papers are really in. I love you so much bro. I'm really glad that I'm able to set an example for you. I'm trying. I know I slacked off and didn't do a good job before my mission, so I know I have some things to make up to you and the family, most importantly The Lord. It's great to see you going through the mission experience, you'll love it. I've often thought of what it would be like to go out tracting with you or teach a lesson with you. We did a lot of things together. I think it would be cool to go out and be missionaries together and see how each other works. I think it would be a neat experience, working beside you. You're great bro. Keep on prepping. I can't wait to hear where you are going, I don't know where you are going, but I'm on your side in saying that where ever you go is where the Lord needs you. That will be where the people that you need to touch are living, and your spirit will speak to their spirit and you will connect. YOu will have amazing spiritual experiences that way. That's because you will soon be called of God. There is not greater feeling.

I send my love and encouragement.
Elder Adams

Hey bro. It sounds bad what happened to you in your game, I probably would have been a litte Ticked at the kid. I hope you're ok, If you need to we've met and are teaching this gangster guy, and he's got a bunch of homies. I'm sure they'd be willing to help me out. These guys are way cool, they love my comp and I. Sounds like you're tearing it up in snowboarding too. The cold is pretty intense too, sometimes it hurts really bad and almost rips the flesh off my face. Last week they had police out rounding up the homeless who were outside. Members and people kept telling us we shouldn't be outside. It was way cold, most of the time we had lessons so we didn't have to stay outside too long. I love you bro. If there's any questions that you have or that you want to ask me, just shoot. Even though I'm far away I still want to be there for you and help you out in any way that I can. I'm there for you.
Elder Adams
P.S.-I checked out some sweet soccer shops here in Chicago. YOU would love them, they've come out with some sick cleats!
I have the puzzle of the Plan of Salvation and the one that makes a box (It's the fourth article of faith). As far as that other puzzle of the Church, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. We often times teach that to people, in fact quite often. We've done a little lesson plan with scriptures, but as far as a visual aid, it comes down to me drawing on some paper. I'm way excited to see that one. In fact we taught that lesson just yesterday. I can't believe Landon is getting married, he didn't waste any time. I remember seeing him at the gym just before I left. I got the package from amber and from aubrey. Pass along my thanks and gratitude. It was great to see those pictures of you all. The pictures of my farewell deffinately brought back a lot of memories, what a day. I love seeing my family too. Tell Aubrey that was the perfect gift: FAMILY. I loved the picture of Ryan, good old goofy Ryan, it was good to see his humor in there. I loved the quotation from the book that will get used.Ok so the Home alone house. It's quite simple really, that house that I took pictures of is THE house where they filmed the movie. We found out from some other missionaries and from some ward members. When we went up to the house, the guy that lived there actually came out and was telling us about the filming. He told us we could stand on the porch, take pictures, and even walk around. He was very nice. He even opened the door and let us look inside, he said he would have invited us in and let us look around but his wife was sick. So yeah pretty intense. I thought Spencer would really like to see that since he is a little HOME ALONE KID!! Ha ha haha, I love Spencer. So we did end up going to see khobie last wednesday and he fed us sushi again. It was way good as usual. Tell dad they didn't have a spider roll they called it something different, as soft shel crab roll, so we got that. It was amazing. There were some other really good ones that we had too. I got pictures of Khobie and I. There were some really cold days last week, stip the flesh off your bones cold. This week has just been really great and a lot of things are going well. Dinner at the Castillos, the New investigators we are teaching, was great. Richard told us about the rats that are the size of cats on the west side of Chicago. Eddie is excited as ever for his baptism, the ward just loves him. He still talks to everyone, even his doctor, about this Gospel that he's found and how great it is. One of these days you'll meet him. He wants to serve a mission like us, and he asked when he could do that, because we had been teaching about when he gets the priesthood and goes to the temple, etc. He's 35 so we told him he wouldn't be able to do a mission just like us, but we told him about married couple missions. He asked if they still get to go out and share the word for the 2 years. When we told him yes, he said oh it's going to happen. Keep in mind he is not currently married. I wish I could write more to you but I gotta get going. I love you all and thank you for your love and support. Your scriptures to look up are those referenced at the bottom of the hym "Onward Christian Soldiers." For we are all enlisted in his army, and Josh is about to become one of his mercenaries out here with me. This Church is true, hold strong.

With Love,
Elder Adams