May 20, 2009

That's right, 2 missionaries now. It's pretty intense. I'm glad the tradition followed of sleeping out in the tent. As the weather warms up here, I told my last companion that it would be great to go out on the shore of Lake Michigan and pitch a tent and go camping. He thought I was weird, because he's used to having 4 wheelers and motorcycles and boats when he camps. He says there has to be a purpose. I love hearing from you. Today we are going down to the city to play some basketball and soccer in Downtown!!! Then we are going to go out for dinner somewhere. It's hard to believe that it's been a year. The biking is intense. I don't have a tracker for our miles anymore but we had a long one yesterday. It took a half hour to get to where we were going, one way!!! That was way up in Glencoe. It's a lot of fun though being on the bike in the sun. I love it!!!

Love, Your Son
Elder Adams (From the Chicago Mission)

You're probably taking Josh to the Mtc, but I'm online for the next hour or hour and a half. It's 10:45 my time.
That is too cool that you were undefeated. I know that you will do great at your tryouts. This next week just try to do everything on your part to prepare. Make sure you get some good exercise, and work on your ball skills. Then turn to the Lord and ask for his help when you've done all that you can. You go out there and do the best you can, you push yourself and try your best, and the Lord will take care of the rest. That has become my motto to follow. Work hard and show the coaches that you are dedicated and they will see that. So an only child at home now. That's something that you are deffinately not used to. My first year of my mission has gone by really fast. I'm glad that you still write me though, and haven't forgotten that I exist. This time will be a great time for you and I to both grow. You'll have to do things on your own, and you'll have to help mom and dad out as much as you can. That's the advice that I can give you. Stay strong and keep pushing forward Bro.The work that I'm doing out here is of God. I know this Church is true, and God does hear and answer our prayers. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and holds the key to revelation and conversion. Jesus is the Christ, he died for all of us, and suffered pain and anguish so that we might repent. The way is through him, and only him. I love this work. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Hey did you get the letter that I sent you, with the scriptures in it? I want to hear what you did your last night home. You'll probably be in the MTC, when you get this. I've been reflection on my mission, and on where I was a year ago. It seems that I have the day before I went into the MTC and then today, and everything else in between is warp speed. It's like a blur of memories. It's gone by so fast. Treasure every moment of it, because I feel mine slipping away. Write in your journal every night so that you can have it to remember. It's crazy how you are now beginning your mission and I'm at 1 year. This is a great journey that you are embarking on. We are both at different stages, but we are doing the same great redemptive work. May the Lord bless us both as we strive to be obedient servants of God, as we testify and spread the gospel. I would wish you luck, but I've learned that prayers and the help of the Lord are far more effective. I will keep you in my prayers.

Love Your Elder Brother and fellow missionary,
Elder Adams
I have not sent the Rain Jacket back yet, and I probably won't get to it today, so it will have to be next P-day's to do list. I did get the Sherpa Jacket, and I love It!!!!!! It is awesome, exactly what I wanted. Were you still planning on sending the size small of the the rain jacket?? If not let me know.
Saturday Leila was baptised, my companion baptised her. It was his first time doing one. Then on Sunday I performed the confirmation. Who would have thought a year from my farewell I'd confirm someone. Everyone is surprised that I am still in this area. The bishop asked if I wanted to raise my family in the ward. The jokes and questions about how long I've been here just keep coming.
This last week has been intense. So as I explained last week we are on the bikes now, no car. On Sunday we were biking to an appointment in Evanston from Winnetka. I was peddaling along, and I steered into the gutter to avoid going over a speed bump. I'd done this before with no problem. Except this time I clipped my pedal on the curb. This Threw my bike and me off balance, and I crashed. My bike lay a couple yards behind me. The handle bars twisted sideways and when I fell I racked myself on my bike. This was the part that hurt the most. My companion was alread riding off ahead. I just lay there moaning. One car stopped to see if I was ok. I eventually got up and licked the blood off the palms of my hands. My hip also felt bruised from when I'd landed. I got back on the bike and we continued the work that night. Sad thing was, that when I got home I looked at my pants and I have a hole in my suit now. The bike is ok though. Throughout the night while we were working though, my hip continued to tighten up. I was limping into the apartment. It's still a little sore, but it's gotten a lot better.So since it's been one year I have decided to redo all of my lesson plans that I have written from the MTC. I figure this would be a good time since it has been a year. It's turning out to be a great study, and I'm really being able to spend some time studying the first lesson right now.
We had exchanges with the Zone Leaders this week. I've discussed with Elder Aquino some of my concerns that have been occurring with my new companion. He has wanted to go in early some nights, so I've had to fight that battle again. I'm back to having to fight the obedience battle. He doesn't seem to like tracting, and seems tired. I'm trying to get to know him, but it's as if I am forcing conversation. I ask small talk questions, but it's difficult to get real conversation going. I feel that the contention between us is hurting our finding efforts. The spirit is not there. I noticed a big difference when I was with Elder Aquino, everything seemed to work out better. I've come to the conclusion that without the Spirit you're basically just going through the motions. Last night he wanted to go in early and we still had 10 minutes to work. I felt it was wrong, but he stayed in the underground parking and I went outside to talk to people and knock on a few doors, by myself. It was probably the wrong thing to do, and I felt awkward walking aroung at night by myself. Last night we also had a talk together about how we both feel. He wants me to relax, and related to me the "Spirit of the law or letter of the law." I've heard this before from Elder Glauser, but I don't feel I should have to sacrifice what is right. We are trying to work things out together. In talking with Elder Aquino we came to the conclusion that my course of action is to try and love and serve him. That's what I'm going to try and do. If there are any other suggestions that you can give me, I'm open to advice. Things are deffinately challenging. I'm going to have to work with this companion, because our relationship is deffinately not roses. I don't think he really likes me. Then again, in talking to Elder Aquino (my zone leader), he said that a lot of missionaries don't like me. He said that he's heard comments made about me. He said that he thinks the reason they don't like me is because I work hard. I feel like I'm singled out, that because I'm different from the majority: I am hated. Elder Aquino said that he has had to face a lot of the same challenges that I am facing, and he was able to offer council. He's said that there is not a lot of focused and obedient missionaries in the English program. I don't understand why everyone has to hate me. It hit me really hard when he told me that. I'm just trying to do what's right, I value what God thinks, and I value this work far more than what someone else thinks. These are missionaries, people who are supposed to be on my side, they are supposed to be my teammates, my fellow commrads and soldiers in God's army. Instead I feel like I have to fight two wars, one on the home front and the other when I step onto the streets or onto a doorstep. Elder Johnson and I have started to talk about some things, but none the less it's going to be a work in progress. I've done this once before and I can do it again, I know that the Lord will uphold me if I keep the commandments. I'm going to need the Lord's help as much as possible. It's interesting how as the one trial of winter ends another begins to keep us growing. I think it is to continue to make me stretch.
Anyway It's been one year in the mission. I feel like I just have my last day when I was at home and then yesterday, and everything else is a mach one blur in between. I've been reflecting on past memories and on my day before I began my mission. I wish that last night could have been a little brighter, and not so overcast by the fact that my companion and I were in disagreance. All the same this has been a good time to think. Josh begins his Journey and I commemorate a year as a missionary. It's been great. The best decision I've ever made. I look forward to this next year, but I feel everything is slipping past. I hope everything goes well for Josh. Today we are going to play soccer and basketball downtown, and then go out to dinner. It should be fun.
I love you all, and I thank you for your support and prayers. Thanks again for the jacket.

With love and perserverance,
Elder Adams
I'm finding that this companion is very different. There are a number of things that we have to work on. I won't talk about everything.