February 25, 2009

Scouticus...man alive dad. Sounds like the Klondike was awesome. So I eat these salads for lunch and I put catalina dressing on it, and it reminded me of your wings. As for your hopeful insight about spring, the people here are saying that winter is usually till the end of April!!! Yeah I almost died. I'm hoping for maybe just a week or two more. I still can't believe that I made it this far through the winter. I feared this part of the mission since the day I got my call. I've almost finished the first winter though, thanks to the Lord. I did find out (And you'll have to verify this) but people have said that the newscasters have said that this has been the coldest winter in 20 years. There was also something about the amount of snow also. 20 Years!!! and this is the year Elder Adams is sent here, the Lord knows where my test lies.
First of all read D&C 8 which talks about the Gift of the Holy Ghost and then read D&C 84:85. This is the counsel that I can give you for giving your talk. The spirit Dad that is the key. I know I don't know enough, or know enough scriptures or anything to be out here teaching, but the Spirit gives us what to say. I've had to rely on my testimony a lot out here on my mission, and that the spirit will help me and give me what I am to say.
> Here's also a cool scripture for fun, about why I think missionaries aren't allowed to go on water D&C 61:14,19. It's interesting. I love you dad and I always look forward to when you write me, it just means so much because I know how little time you have and how slow of a typer you are. Ha Ha, just kidding. Thanks for the update, and love ya tons. 

Your son, Elder Adams

So I did get your Valentines package. Thank you so much. That scarf is professional, and really warm. I love it. It's way better than the other one that you made. You are just a great mom, that's all there is to it. Still no word on the other package with the puzzles in it. This package that I got, the mail man didn't put a slip in our mailbox to say that I had a package in the office, so I just went and checked one day and lo and behold they had a package there for me that had been sitting there and they hadn't told me.

Here's the rest of the talk stuff.

This comes after the part about mary and marthaWhen God gives us our talents and our opportunities, and everyday of our lives, and when he asks us to consecrate our time, talents , and wealth to building up the kingdom of God. He's not asking for the possessions or those talets to be given to him. He doesn't need those things-he already has them. In fact h4e's the one who created them and gave them to you. If we were to think of consecration as merely giving up what we own to the Lord we'd essentially be "Returning to Sender'[ everything we have (as Neal A. Maxwell said). What th Lord wants is for us to surrender our will to him, because our agency is the one thing he does not have.Qoute by Neal A Maxwell. "In pondering and pursuing consecration. Understandably we tremble inwardlyat what may be required. Yet the Lord has said consolingly, "My grace is sufficient for you " (DC 17:18). Do we really believe him? He has also promised to make weak things strong. Are we really willing to submit to that process? Yet if we desire fulness, we cannot hold back part!"
-For each of us there is some part or piece small or large in which we are holding back, so we shouldn't ask "Lord is it I?" What we should ask is "Lord, is it this?"

So there's some stuff for you. Ponder it and pray about it, study it out more, and then add your own thoughts and impressions and bear a sincere heart felt testimony and you will do great on your talk. Trust in the Holy Ghost and it will be given to you what to say.
I laughed out loud when I read what you said about Josh and this girl. That's hilarious, I wrote him a big letter last week about it already. I wish I could have seen your two goals that is so cool. Bro. you are amazing, you're my little hero. I can't believe you're hitting up the rails, I would have thought you would pansy out. So that D&C section 4 I actually have that memorized. We recite it at the beginning of all of our meetings there's this other thing that we recite. It's called the standard of truth and it's very powerful. Here I'll give it to you:The Standard of Truth:The Standard of Truth has been erected. No unhollowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, and calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent. Till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say: "The work is done."Awesome huh. I loved that when I first heard that in the MTC. I still love it!!!So as for a workout plan for running. You need to start building up some endurance. When you start, the first day I want you to run 3 miles as fast as you can, just do your best just to see where you are at and really to push yourself is what it is. You have to break yourself in this first day hard. Then after that I want you to run consistently at a pace that you can handle every day for about 23 min. Then you'll do three sprints for about 35-40 seconds. This can be done on the treadmill or outside. Treadmill will help you to push yourself because you can push the buttons to up your speed. This way you don't get relaxed and slow down when you are running outside. You need to run like this everyday for about 2 weeks.(Except for days you have practice or games). Another thing that can help is stairs. Run these for about 25 minutes. As for weights. Do Chest or bench press 8-10 reps of a weight that at the 10th you're tired. If your finish 10 and you're not tired it's too light. do 7-9 sets of these. You need to work your abs everyday, your core is where power comes from to kick. Also it will help you to have better posture will running and make you a better runner. Pick three other exercises with weights to do and do them alternating. So you'll do the bench and two other exercises one day and then pick three leg exercises to do the next day. Write me if you have any questions. You're awesome, the keys is dedication and sticking with it. I love you Bro.

Elder Adams
Bud I love your testimony, it brings the spirit. I wish I could take you out tracting door to door with me, we'd do the work of the Lord and baptize! I'd love to have your bear your testimony in a teaching appointment in someone's home, that would be great. Your testimony is so true, this gospel is true. We have a living prophet on the Earth who's name is Thomas S. Monson. The work I am doing is of God, I am called of God, not of man, to do God's will. I am his soldier and his mercenary, and he has chosen me to teach these people, and to testify. That Book of Mormon is a tool for people's conversion, use it and read it to strengthen your own. It is the word of God.
So yeah I was checking at the old place for quite a while, I talked to the caretaker and I got his number if anything comes. I've checked there a couple of times. At this new place you don't have to put your name on the box. I received cally grandma's card. I wrote you already that I received the Valentines package, the office for the apartments was just not paying attention. This week went by so fast. We are actually teaching two families now, it's great. We are now teaching this Hatian family that has 9 kids, it's pretty intense. The little kids love us and always want to shake our hands. There were a lot of Jamaicans on this street that we talked to. This same day we were knocking doors and this couple from Romania let us in. We taught them also. This week has just been a world tour, Romanians, Jamaicans, Hatians. We also had some really good African food at the Yancuba's (They are members from Liberia). We've had some interesting things here before, like when she put chicken feet in this stuff that you put over rice, this time was really good though. Beverly one of our investigators had us and Eddie and Shirlene over for dinner on Friday and she made "Soul Food." She's a good cook, I loved the collard greens she made. Then I learned that you put hot sauce on them, and that made them even better. I love the collard greens. You already have the mission home address don't you? Here's the address to this place though
Elder Adams
1930 Ridge Ave. #C-212
Evanston, IL 60201
Since josh didn't write me I don't know if you want to give him these scriptures I found ,but I thought of him and I think they'd be good. DC 124:7,9
Love ya tons mom and look forward to hearing from ya

Elder Adams
It's looking like you forgot. I'm just lifting weights and going back and forth checking my mail. The computers are right by the fitness center. I'm waiting. i don't know how much longer my comp has got.
so Eddie has been coming to appointments with us. He loves it and it's great to hear him bear his testimony of the BOM and of Joseph Smith and how this gospel has changed his life.
sweet it's about time. So how is the day going. Is Josh still sick. He probably didn't go to school then i would guess. I hope he starts feeling better. Stay on and write back quick, because I'm right here and I've already written everyone, so I'm waiting.
alright 5 min. and then my comp and i are going back up to our room to get some lunch, then we have grocery shopping and errands to do. maybe we'll be back.
We are heading out!!! Love ya tons mom. You are the best mom, don't you ever forget that!!!! I mean it.