June 10, 2009

Well it's ironic that you should say, How's the battle. I thought things were getting better. We were out tracting and talking to each other I thought things might be changing. Then last Friday night I was trying to tell him that we only have an hour for lunch and an hour for dinner. Long story short and as things escalated, I tried to talk to him, but he punched me in the head and pushed me on my bed, then he stood over me and swore at me. I surprised myself and didn't do anything back, I didn't even push him when he came at me. I just protected my glasses that I was wearing. I got up off of the bed and called President. I surprised I didn't retaliate. Elder Johnson was transfered the next day and I now have a new companion. It's odd you should say that things won't be easy when you're doing the right thing. When President interviewed me Saturday morning he told me, "You're are never in the wrong when you are trying to be hard working, obedient, and spirit driven." He then had me stand up and he gave me a hug, and told me to put it behind me and go to work. My new companion is awesome. He's focused, dedicated, and obedient. He wants to talk to people and share the gospel. He's been out about 4 months, but I love him. There's been a huge change in the work around here. The Lord is blessing us with success. It's amazing what the Spirit in a companionship will do. I sensed it was missing, but now I can tell it's back. Things are so much better. The miracles and the unrealistically great success we are having, the power in the lessons we are teaching, I see it all as a sign of God's stamp of approval that things will be ok. That this is how he wants it to be. I'm ok, and I wrote a few more things to mom, but I wanted to give you some of the details also. Keep me in your prayers. Oh, and I haven't heard how preparation for Timberline is going? Will you be ready to go up on the mountain?
I love you tons dad. You're a great dad.

Elder Adams

HI lots has happened I'm sure you'll have lots of questions. I'll be here for a bit
sorry the internet is really slow this morning. Well I haven't written you the whole story yet, but I have a new companion. There's been an emergency transfer. Friday night I was tellling my companion that we only have an hour for dinner and an hour for lunch and he didn't like that idea. Things progressed, he wanted to drop it, but I tried to talk to him. He then became angry, and started gritting his teeth. Then as I tried to talk to him, he just kept saying "back down, don't use that voice with me, you better watch yourself." He was getting really mad. Then he walked around the counter and punched me in the head, then he pushed me on the bed and stood over me and swore at me. I had my glasses on so I had tried to protect them. I didn't want to push him or anything when he came towards me. Surprisingly I remained calm and got up and called president. We talked for a while, and he talked to Elder Johnson. It was a late night. I think there was talk then and the next day of Elder Johnson being sent home, because hitting your companion is a zero tolerance. The next morning President called and told Elder Johnson to pack his things and be ready in an hour. We then drove for an hour and met president. He interviewed me and one thing I will always remember president saying to me as I told him how I didn't want things like this to happen on my mission. I also told him how the other day I would talk to people and then when they would reject me, I saw my companion smile or laugh silently. This hurts. After I had told President these things I will always remember him telling me this as we stood and he gave me a hug. He said "you are never in the wrong when you are trying to be hard working, obedient, and spirit driven, You are never in the wrong." He then told me to put this behind me and go work. He really showed his love towards me that day, and embraced me. He told me I would get a new companion. I soon found out that this companion was in a situation in which he had to take initiative himself and do a lot of things on his own. So I have a new companion now. His name is Elder Jenkins, from Syracuse, UT. Things have been amazing, I love him. He was companions in the mtc with Eld. Stanger. He's only been out about 4 months, but he's great. He talks to people he's obedient, and wants to work hard. This is exactly what I've been waiting for. Just on Saturday alone, the miracles we saw, the success we had. The companionship unity we have now. The spirit is with us. I could tell a difference when I was with Elder Johnson, that the spirit was not with us, and then when I was put with Elder Jenkins I could tell the spirit is with us. I've been recharged and envigorated. I want to go that much more. It's incredible. This new companion is awesome. The work is moving forward, and I look at the miracles and the success that we've had as a sign from God, a stamp of his approval that this is a good thing. People respond to us differently. The Spirit is back and it feels so good to have a companion that cares. This is sort of a shortened version, but know that things are ok. My Ear was bruised for a couple days from the hit, and I had a little headache the next day, but things are good. I have Eld. Jenkins with me now, the work will go forward. God is blessing us, and smiling down upon us.

Elder Adams

We found out that he was able to stay and he is now serving in Elgin. President had to talk to the missionary departmet, to see what to do.

I love you bro. keep me in your prayers. I think it's great that you are going to efy. That's something that I never did. Enjoy your summer and have fun. You're going to be in high school now how crazy is that. Are you turning 15 this september? Anyway how is practice going with your team. I love hearing your testimony as always, it's an added strength. Just listen to mom and do what she asks you to do, she only wants the best for you. Where are you at in the BOM right now? Anyway you'll have to have mom fill you in on the details, but a lot of intense stuff has happened this week. I have a new companion, there was an emergency transfer because my companion punched me in the face. My new companion is obedient and hard working and he actually cares about what we are doing. Pray for us. I love you bro.

Love your Elder Brother

Hey mom I'm writing this to you and then we have to go to do grocery shopping and lunch really quick. I wanted to go to the temple this week by my companion just went a few weeks ago and we can only go once every 3 months unless we get permission from pres. So I'll be back later today to chat. I got the rain jacket and I love it, thanks. I can't believe sister littleford is 92, tell her hello. I don't know if I ever told you to say thank you to sister merril for the letter and the $10 she sent me. Those were great words that she wrote and they came at a great time. That was the day we had a rough lesson with beverly and I normaly don't get mail, but I got her letter and one from Bill. Let her know that it was greatly appreciated. It sounds like the summer is going great. I look forward to hearing how your lesson goes. I'm really excited to hear that Zach and I are still friends and that a response from him is on the way. It's good to hear he's doing well.
I just want to tell you the support that can come from the Savior. If it weren't for him and his comforting Spirit I'm sure I would have collapsed or fallen. He's helped so much. The Spirit has been with me to comfort me and uplift me, and testify of Christ's love for me. I reflect upon his 33 years of service and then I look at my 2 that I have been given. He served his often times alone, he was rejected and ridiculed. He fae all sorts of opposition, but he never faltered or slowed or tired. For 33 years he served diligently with love, because he loves me. He did this for me. I think of how he was despise, rejected, how there were times when no one but his Father in Heaven was there to help him. Yet he went on. If the Savior did 33 years this way, and now he has called me to stand in his place for his children, and he loved me enough to bleed from every pore, and then to stand and be openly mocked and not say a word back, you better believe I'm willing to stand in his place on the earth for two years and take a fragment of what can even be imagined of what he went through. Except he is with me and knows what it's like. His arm is sufficient, and when I'm not he makes me what I cannot be. He carries. This is my Testimony of the Savior that he lives and loves me. In Christ's name Amen.

Elder Adams