April 22, 2009

So it's pretty big news here amongst the Elders Quorum that all four Chicago teams won on Sat. (Bulls, soxs, cubs, Blackhawks). We should be on our bikes this week. We biked Thursday, Friday, and Saturday last week. One day we did about 16.7 miles, and another over 12. It's a lot of fun on the bikes. It's been rainy since sunday so we haven't been on the bikes. The rest of this week is supposed to be nice, so I'm excited to get on the bike again. I haven't heard how you're liking your job at Radio Shak. It's good to hear that you liked the scriptures that I sent you. Here's some more.
3Nephi 22:13-14--Has to do with family.
This is a really good personal one that I read recently---Psalms 56. I love you Dad, and I always love hearing from you. Stay strong in the Gospel, and lead the family in paths of righteousness. 

With Love and Prayers,,
Elder Adams

I'll be here for about another 40 minutes or so!!
I did, about three weeks ago. I had the waist taken in on my brown suit. It cost me 14 Bucks!!!
Hey little bro. It sounds like soccer is going awesome. 2-0, that's really good. Chicago is going really well, and the weather is supposed to start warming up. It's been really wet and rainy this past week though, so I'm ready for that to end. It's always good to hear from you though. Hey I had a question to ask you..... Do you still have a mullet??? Yeah you know what I'm talking about. I hope you've learned what a haircut is. I'm just playing with you. Anyway, where are you at in the Book of Mormon? Do you have a favorite scripture yet, or one that you've come across that you've really liked? Keep reading on, and the important thing is to remember to pray. Pray before you read and after. Ask God for understanding and ask specifically for an answer if the Book of Mormon is true. If you do this the Spirit or Holy Ghost will tell you that the Book of Mormon is true. When you finish it, find a quiet secluded place and pray. God will answer you. I finished the Book of Mormon just last week, again. It's always a great boost to read it again. I really enjoyed your testimony, it's really continuing to grow and mature. It's always good to hear your Testimony Spencer. I love you bro. continue on in paths of righteousness and the Lord will Bless and uphold you. Know that someday you too will be able to embark in this great work a serve God and the Savior who redeemed us all. It's such a privilege to be a missionary, and you are so lucky that you have this to look forward to. Prepare now, and live worthy to serve. This is God's true and living Church and it is his work. I leave you with this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Love, Your Big Brother.
Awsome. This usually never happens that you just jump right on. What a day!!! Yesterday was zone conference, and we only have one more Zone conference with President Stoddard.
I also wanted to tell you Spencer that our theme for our mission for this Transfer is : The Book of Mormon is Powerful in the Conversion Process. It really is, and it is for us too. Think abou this as you read and pray about the Book of Mormon.
So we were on the bikes Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and we put some good miles in. In was great weather, and I loved it!!! Sunday till today though has been rain. It's supposed to warm up again though, so I'm looking forward to being back on the bikes again. We had Zone conference yesterday also. My companion seems to be picking up a few things from me. It's incredible what example and love will do. His door approaches are also improving and I seek to praise him when he performs well. He's really starting to improve and catch on. Beverly is coming closer and closer. She's just an incredible woman, I wish all of you could meet this woman. (She makes great collard greens also, so I would suggest that you try those.) The Hatian people are great. I really surprises me how dominant that population is here in this area. This Saturday we knocked on the door of a Hatian family. We ended up talking to this guy who posed a lot of questions to us. It was striking, because I had studied the answers to everyone of his questions no more than a few hours that morning in my personal study. He asked questions about how we are to raise our children, and questions about prayer. All of them I had just studied no more than a few hours ago, and I was able to even pull out a copy of the Book of Mormon and show him where these things could be found. We had a prayer with him right there at his apartment door, before we left. I really felt like the Lord had led and guided me, and provided me with that which I needed. I think back to when I first decided to go on a mission. There was not much time to prepare, and I was afraid, and I felt inadequate and unprepared. I remember Zach telling me not to worry about it, but that the Holy Ghost would teach me all things that I needed to know and would give me the words to speak. This was where I've had to place my trust. I don't know the scriptures, but I'm learning. If I had to come out here and rely completely upon my own knowledge and ability, I would fail. I can't do this work by myself. It's the Lord and his matchless power and wisdom that sustains and upholds me. How can I think that there is anyway that I would have been able to make it thus far without the Spirit. It's instances like these where I see God's hand in the work that I know he is watching over me. He's got me by the hand.... he's walking beside me. He's near my desk when I study....He goes along with me on my bike....He's an added comforting umbrella when I walk door to door in the rain...The people see his face at each door before they see mine.... When I'm rejected he's near.... When Ia m weak he bears me up... He teaches me....His Spirit is there when I bear testimony.....When I pray he listens....He stands by me. I will be his humble servant and he will guide me. I can with boldness and authority declare this gospel to all. I can with power testify of the Restoration and the living Savior with all the conviction that I possess in my body. I can do this not because of my ownself, but because he is with me. The Savior makes me what I am not. Out here I wear his name on my heart, because I represent him. It's his name I take upon myself. I am not who I used to be, because I am one of his sheep. I was the wounded and weakened lamb that he layed across his shoulders and carried. I know the name by which he calls me, and it is his name. I'm his, I give it all to him, all that I am, all that I will be, because it's my choice and he cared enough to die for me. He now helps me day to day, and I see his hand in the work. I know these things to be true. God made sure I could know of these things and has sent me here to labor among his children. I love feeling the Spirit, and having the Spirit work through me, it truly is from God. I leave you with this my Testimony, In Jesus the Christ's sacred name. Amen.

Sincerely, Elder Adams

P.S- Here are some scriptures DC 121:7-29, and for Josh: DC 105:35-36 -This has to do with being called and being chosen.

He's an accountant from Concord California. President Doll, is his name. President Stoddard leaves in 9 weeks, July 1.
We offer to serve people, or help them get their yards ready, but people are very defensive. We tried to just help a lady who had some stuff on the ground by her car, and she really did not want our help. She finally consented when we told her we were going into the same business that she was. Otherwise she was determined to make two trips. It's like if you are not part of the same faith, then you can't help each other. That's the concept that people have. They are very independent and afraid, and defensive here. I wish we could help people, but all we can do is offer.
Well we were business contacting, and it was a flooring business that we were going to. She had an arm ful of flooring samples and some on the pavement near her car, and we offered to help. She was probably 65-70 years old and drove this Honda Sports car. Our help to her was almost like an attack. We are leaving in 5 minutes to do our Grocery shopping.
Get this! On Monday, my companion received a package and 2 letters. Then at Zone Conference yesterday he received another 6 letters and 2 packages. This companion receives more mail than anyone. His girlfriend writes him about every three days, plus letters from his extended family. It's insanity.
Yeah you've got to love the shopping.
With all of these letters my companion has to write a bunch of them today. So He's going to write them here in the cafe' area and I'm going to work out in the gym. I can also email you back and forth. I' be back later this afternoon. Probably 3:00 my time or 2:30, just check for me. I'll write you later. Oh, and where is this letter from Zach you were going to print off and send to me?