January 7, 2009

Atta boy, way to be an example to your friends. That's what Zach was to me, he really helped me. Be careful though with forcing people to do things, I know that was something that made me fight back. Zach always had these great talks with me at night when we would have sleepovers. He would break the gospel down for me. Best of all was his example. That's kinda how it is out here on the mission. I know this gospel, this Church, and the Book of Mormon are true, but when we teach people and they don't keep their appointments or they don't do their bom reading, I can't force them. I can't make them come to Church. They have to be touched by the spirit in order to be converted. That's why this is not my work. This is the Lord's, it 's in his hands, I am just his tool. I bear testimony, promise them blessings, and ask them to keep their commitments. They have to do it though. That's what's tough. Is that I know that this is good for them, I want them to feel how I feel, know what I know, feel the spirit in a way that I have. I can't pull it out of my backpack and give it to them though. I love this work though, and that's why we need the spirit. It works through us and accomplishes miracles. Keep doing what you're doing bro. school will be fine. I'll keep you in my prayers. I'll keep fighting off that "Evil Cold" too. Love ya Bro.
Elder Adams

Well that sounds nice, a new GPS. I do have the card from applebee's, and yes I did get the Christmas visa card from Grandma.
Sounds like spencer got some cool stuff too.
So how often does he use the quesadilla maker? For josh, that sounds like and everyday thing, he loves cheese, well he loves food in general.
Buddy, can I just say that I feel the spirit every time I read your testimony. That's what's wonderful about a testimony, is that it doesn't have to be eloquent or complex, it just has to be born by someone with a pure heart and with sincerity. Even in your words, because you have a good heart about it, the spirit conveys that message. I love you. Well it sounds like school is going really well. I did not hear about the Utah game, but that is way cool. I bet you rubbed it in pretty good at church. Just be careful, excitement is good, but pride is no bueno.
Love you tons bro.
Elder Adams
P.S. That corn dog is money when I get in and it's cold, warms me right up.

Get out the candles, the punch bowl, fine tableclothes, and invite one and all- ELDER ADAMS has finally landed his first 2 transfer comapanion. That's right I did not just have a handcramp and make a mistake typing. My companion, Elder Brown, and I are both staying here in the North Shore for another transfer. Yeah, I am way excited. 7 and a half months in the field and I finally have a companion for more than six weeks. I don't have to learn to teach with someone new, or get to know a new area. WHAT!!!! So yeah we are pretty excited about the whole ordeal. The only thing is that, you know how I mentioned he was having some rough days. We had a talk about how it was affecting our relationship and how we do the work, and it caused a lot of thought provoking for him. He says he's having a lot of anxiety, so he called President last week and they set him up with the LDS services therapist. His appointment was today, things went well. Since he and I talked he's been a lot better. We have a greater love and understanding for each other. This is why we are so excited to be together. It will be great to work with him longer. Something I probably haven't told you about this area, is there are a lot of sirens. Every night, lots of activity. There really loud, that's what you fall asleep to. Speaking of cops, last week were stopped by the police and 3 cars showed up, while we were out tracting. You would have thought it was a homicide. They wanted to see licenses, and tried to tell us we needed a permit. This is the 6th time this has happened and we told them this. People just get worried because we are in black going door to door. We told President Stoddard about this and he told us we don't need a permit because we are not selling anything, so it is not solliciting. He told us the next time it happened to get the officers names and badge numbers, and he'd take care of things (He's a big time lawyer from Vegas) Sure enough it happened again a few days later. 2 cops, so I asked for their information. One of them tried to avoid me and when I asked again my comp tried to ask if we needed both. I thought, yes, they both messed with us they both need to pay the price. The officer gave it to me finally. Then one of the cops tried to tell me that when Jesus taught he didn't go from place to place he let people come to him, so I replied," Well when I learn to walk on water, People will come to see me too, until then..." I probably shouldn't have said this, but when we called president to tell him it had happened again he laughed when I told him what I had said. He took care of things, and said they were going to be talked to by the chief of police. President Stoddard doesn't mess aroung, he's hard core. He said they shouldn't be bothering us anymore. So this makes seven times for me being talked to by police while out tracting. (Oh mom I need some of the face spot treatment medicine in the little tube.)Wow that sounds like a lot happened. It sounds like Zach is getting ready to do it. Tell Peedy that lying and deceiving is of the Devil, and that he will be smitten if he does not repent and forsake his sins.So Last Wednesday, New Years Eve....We went to the bulls game. We missed the first minute though, because we were late, and we were rushing. They got stomped on though. Dad was right about that rookie, he's incredible. There was probably about 20 or more missionaries there at the game, all on one row, and President Stoddard even came. After half time he came and sat next to me for a while and he started falling asleep!!!!! So I tried to get a picture, (Some great blackmail material), just as I snapped it though he woke up and I moved my hand really quick so the picture was blurred really bad. He and I had a good laugh, and he tried to make excuses. The game was good though, the bulls started to rally about the last 2 minutes (a little late). One of the bulls players did a no look alley-oop pass to a team mate who dunked it!!! After the Game my comp and I went out to this Thai Restaurant afterwards. It was really good, and we had a ton of leftovers.So next big event. Saturday we had Ricardo's Baptism. We ended up getting to the Church to fill the font late. Then we noticed that the nozzle on the spout was tiny. We knew it would take forever and we had and hour and a half. So my comp and I went into the kitchen and took out every larg pot and punch bowl we could and began filling them with water. Then we loaded them onto wheeled serving carts and took them to the other side of the building and dumped them into the font. I was the filler and loader in the kitchen and my companion took them to the font and dumped. We worked frantically, I felt like Mickey from the movie fantasia. There was water all over the floor, and we were rushing. It looked like we were going to make it. Then the water in the spout started to cool off.. so we filled up the biggest pots and put them on the stove to heat. This was an intense experience. We finally made it though, the font was filled just as people began to arrive. Ricardo didn't bring a change of church clothes though and showed up in a jacket and jeans. He had to go home so we had to wait for him. It was just a small baptism because not many of the singles ward was back from the holidays but it was great. So Ricardo had asked me to do the baptism. As I walked down into the water, wow, it was a little chilly. I felt bad for Ricardo because he had to go under. After I said the prayer and layed him back, the witnesses said that his left hand didn't go all the way under, so we had to do it again. When we got out of the font I gave him a hug, he said he was happy. He had forgotten his towel though so we had to share, (That water made us both cold). He pointed out the tattoos on his arm as mistakes, but I told him he was clean and perfect now. We both undressed, and he stopped half undressed in wet clothes and knelt down on the tile floor to pray. This is the gospel changing people's lives, he knows and understands it. He got choked up as he gave his testimony afterwards. His mom and brother were there to see all of this, it was great. He's even been talking about serving a mission now. How great would that be, he's told us about how he used to drink and party, now look at him he could be a servant of the Lord. I feel so blessed to have been a part of it. So now Elder Brown and I are looking forward to Eddy's on Jan 31 and we have 2 others who are deciding on a date, hopefully everything works out. Eddy's appointments continue to be incredible. He had a really powerful experience of his own reading the BOM on New year's eve. I don't know if I've told you about Beverly, She's this really kind hearted African American lady. She reminds me of the typical southern woman type. I love her spirit. I wish you could meet her and listen to her. She reads the BOM everyday and says it helps her to not think about her health problems or other things. Last night she said, " I didn't have any sons but I have 2 now." Don't worry mom I'm still yours too. She also came out and told us that she wasn't going to lie, that she'd been searching, and was on a journey and didn't know what she was looking for, but the lord did. She said that was a good day when we knocked on the door. I know it's because of the Lord all of these children that he has led us to, that he has prepared. He trusts me enough to give them their chance here on this earth. What a priviledge. These people have been waiting and looking for this, and now they have. This gospel changes and blesses lives, I witness miracles weekly, daily, I cannot say it enough. God hears and answers prayers. I love this work, to testify is my calling, and the Lord is there to uphold and bless me. He consecrates me to be his servant, and gives me conviction through the cold. Christ lives, and this is his Church. If everyone could only know, If you could feel it, and see it as I see it. This might well be ground zero of God's work, he is building it and rolling it forward quickly. I know this to be true in the sacred name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Love you All, Elder Adams