July 8, 2009

yeah, my zipper is busted, and I think ogio has a lifetime warranty on all zippers and buckles. The smaller size of shirt would be great. I will send them home today.
I got your package, thank you. Anyway so for the fourth of July....My companion bought a bunch of Chicken and I whipped up a marinade for it. A member also gave us a steak so we threw that in there to share also. I also cut up some potatoes and onions that some members had given us and I seasoned and marinated these. The chicken marinated for a day and the veggie's for half a day. We also made some rolls. We went down by the pool and used the apartments barbeque to grill. It was great, not bad for two missionaries. The grill ran out of gas just as our food finished cooking, the steak and some of the potatoes were a little underdone, but it was good. This day was a miracle also because it was raining almost the whole day, and this bbq that we were planning looked like it was going to get canceled. We'd been smelling everyone elses bbq as we went through the neighborhoods earlier that morning. We talked to one black guy out grilling ribs, and it looked like he'd killed every animal and put it on the grill. He told us how much meat he planned to cook and I believed him. I was praying as we tracted out in the rain, soaking wet from biking, that the weather would change. Sure enough right before it was time to go fix dinner the rain stopped and it cleared up. We GRILLED!! Then that night we went to the Lakeshore. We got permission from President to watch the fireworks and to be out a little later. This was probably one of the greatest displays I've ever seen. We were about 100-200 yards away from where they were launching them. I could also see the ones in Chicago amid the buildings. I think our evanston show was bigger. It was so loud and well done. There were a ton of boats that had parked out on the water also, and we stood amid crowds of people on a pier. The shoreline was packed. Getting out of there was intense also. It was like a stadium event was ending, the streets were loaded. We had to walk with our bikes for a little until we could get out. Deffinately a great fourth of July celebration.
Yesterday Elder Gardner and I had some miracles occur. We had 6 appointments set up throughout the day, and some of them we had members lined up to come with us. All six of them fell through. However as we talked to as many people as we could that were around us as we went to the different appointments we were blessed with contacts and newly arranged appointments. It was incredible how many people gave us there information and were willing to meet with us. In one area where we were working it was as if everyone we spoke to wanted to hear the gospel. It was almost as if the Lord compensated for our appointments falling through. My comp got chewed out pretty bad on a street contact last night in downtown evanston, and I had to go over and get the guy to leave and get my comp out of there. He was really hammering on him. My comp said he wanted to punch the guy.
By the way, I'm speaking in sacrament this week, and I bore my testimony in sacrament just this past week. I cried, that's inevitable, but this is like my home ward now anyway. I felt like I'd been putting off sharing my testimony this past couple of fast and testimony meetings and I felt I had to get up this time. I shared some things I'd read in John 5:61-71, during Personal study that morning. Ponder these scriptures and how Jesus' disciples left him. Ponder how peter answers like a good disciple to whom shall we go. Then he testifies of the savior. We have no one else to turn to but Christ. He is my Lord and Savior, and we too must testify. It felt so good to testify, it was like a lift or boost. The spirit surges through you, and then you have a peace and a calm. I love you All and I love this work. Each day to be a missionary is blessing and a gift, I have to treasure each one.

Love ,
Elder Adams

Well how did it go? Did you have any problems, see any miracles, did you plan and evaluate effectively??? Anyway I want to hear more. You can read about my fourth in mom's email. I love you tons. I love you Spencer, stay strong. Where are you at in the BOM. Oh and how's soccer practice going. Also the new mission President has changed a couple of things already. He also called us last night and he wants to come out and work, or teach with us tomorrow night. I never did that with Pres. Stoddard. I'm excited it should be a lot of fun. I love you all and I look forward to hearing a little MORE from you next week.

Love Elder Adams.

Hey, I also washed some of my garments with some colors, particularly a green shirt. So now some of my garment bottoms are tinted green. Some are definately showing green. I don't know how bad the shirts are. Is it ok to wear them still, or do you need to send me some more. You make the decision. They just aren't white anymore. If I need new, could you send some out, probably 3-4 pair. I also still have a pair with a hole in it that I haven't been wearing and haven't thrown out, because I don't know what to do with it. Help me out in this department, I'm still new.
Thanks Elder Adams