August 12, 2009

HEy I"m on, I'm at the Byron Public Library. Not a ton of time though. I can get more though I just have to ask for another slip, but hurry on.
Yes, I got the 4th of July Package. I thought I already said that. Anyway it sounds like you've all been busy, and a lot has been going on. I'm glad to hear things are going well.Well, I've been here in Byron for a week now. Things are different here than they are in the North Shore. The people are small town country folk. Some of them are a little different. There's really not much out here. In Byron there's two small grocery stores, and a small strip of businesses, with a few gas stations. We cover a few other towns that are separated by a 20-30 minute drive through corn, soybean, and wheat fields. Mostly all that you'll find in Byron and other towns is very few people and a few family diners. It's definitely a different world out here. There is one site that will catch your eye amid the fields of corn to which Byron and the surrounding area lay claim to fame. That is the two gigantic cement chemistry beaker shaped nuclear silos. They're part of a nuclear plant here in the area. They have lights around the top that you can see at night. These monstrosities are constantly billowing out a large cloud of smoke. It makes you wonder? When you see the next picture of me if I have an extra arm you'll know why.
As for our apartment, it's fairly nice. It's about 2 or 3 times the size of my last one, but no dishwasher, and the appliances are a little older. We have a lot of furniture in our living room also. The apartment is two levels. We have a full bathroom, study room, and bedroom, upstairs. Downstairs is a half-bathroom, the kitchen, and the living room. It's not too bad, right by the Rock river. We still take our bikes out to bike to the work that we have to do close by in Byron, since it's such a small town.
My companion and I go running together every morning. I've ran on country roads amid the corn, and sheep pastures with early morning fog. I've ran across the bridge over the Rock river, and along paths through golf courses. There is some great beauty and sights here that God has preserved. The air here is clean and fresh. There are even some HILLS here to run on!!!! It's been a long time since I've had that.
It's not a ward here in Byron, it's a Branch. The chapel is small, and sacrament meeting is small. They told us they like to get the missionaries involved. Sure enough, my companion was asked to give the opening prayer for sacrament, and I was asked to speak in two weeks. It was different being in a small branch. The members are extremely warm and friendly though. We are trying to get to know them all. We found out the reason the other two elders were both taken out of here. Apparently they had caught a squirrel and shot it with a bb gun, they they had skinned it, and the members had found out about this. I also get the feeling that not much work has been going on here in the area. It seems my mission Presidents are always sending me to areas where there have been problems either with the area, or in companionships. It seems like if and area is struggling or there's some problem then I end up getting transfered there. They say that this area has been tracted over before and nothing has come of it. They say the work is through the members, which is different then what I'm used to. As far as assignments go, I'm the new District Leader for the surrounding area. It's one of the largest districts, and so my phone calls to all the companionships in the other areas at night take longer. I love this work though nonetheless, and we are going to push to move the work forward. We are going to rely on the Lord and pray and work hard.
As for my companion....His name is Elder Nowell from Scottsdale, Arizona. This is his third transfer, so he's been out about 3 months, so I have another new one. I like how he wants to get up with me in the morning and go running, and he's excited that I like to do the same. We've had our disagreements but we are working through things. We definitely have the potential to be a great team.
Elder Nowell and I had a special fast together on Sunday. We fasted for the finding efforts in the area, and for unity in our companionship. The miracles and the answer to our prayers came. On Monday we had a member present lesson, 3 other lessons, and 4 new investigators. It has been incredible. The power of fasting and prayer is real. It cannot be denied. We were going to stop-by a less active member, but when we knocked on the door we found out that they had moved. The man let us in though after I had began to speak to him about the message that we share. After teaching him for a while his girlfriend showed up, and we invited her to join. This less-active member's address had been one that we had chosen to stop by the night before. The Lord answered our prayers in guiding us to right where we needed to be. Our teaching this day was also with such great unity. It went so much better. Miracles have not ceased, and we do have a Father in Heaven, who is a personal God and a God of Miracles. He is watching over us. It cannot be denied that it is the hand of God in answer to our prayers. It's almost surreal how our prayers have already began to be answered.

I've got to send this off and continue in a minute.

Love Elder Adams

We drive a 2006 Chevy Malibu, now fitly equipped with a GPS. The Gps is genious, and I am loving that little piece of technology more and more. It's been a long time since I've used it, but being whitewashed into an area....it's getting its good use.
The miracles and answered prayers have deffinately already began. The power of prayer and fasting are so real. A dedicated fast for something that we stand in need in can bring blessings. The work in this area will go forward, the Lord is going to help us accomplish miracles. We just have to now do our part and get out there and work hard. My mission is so important to me and I love it. Every minute I feel is a sacred gift from God. I treasure it. This is my new home here. I know the message I share is true. Joseph Smith and every one of his successors is a Prophet of God. They receive direct revelation from God. I am called where I am supposed to be. I don't know why I've been called here to this area, to what's been said is the most rural part of the mission. There's a reason I'm here. There is someone or some people here that I am to find and help bring to this gospel. I am with this companion for a reason. He and I are here to do a great work, we have been called of called and commissioned to labor here in Byron. That's what we will do. I know there is a purpose for me to be here. I will seek to love these people and to serve them. This the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's Kingdom once again on the earth, and we are part of it. I know the Savior lives and is guiding this work. We have the tools necessary to do this work: The spirit and The word of God. We have the Book of Mormon a true and living witness of Jesus Christ ministering to the people in the Americas. I know these things to be true. In Jesus Christs name. Amen.

Humbly and prayerfully,
Elder Adams

Bro, It sounds like you are having an amazing time. Hopefully mom is sending all my detailed emails. I'm sure you've heard that I've been whitewashed into an area with a companion that has been out 3 months, and I've been called as the District Leader of one of the larger districts in the mission. They've downsized on the number of zone leaders and so likewise everything else has downsized. Which means increased number of companionships in Zones and Districts. There is not much going on in the area right now, and there are a lot of corn fields. So how is your companion. Is he obedient. What do you and your companion do for workout in the morning. Is your bedtime 10:30 also. How is the work going in your area of the vineyard. Sorry for all of the questions, I'm just wondering what's different and what's the same. We still take our bikes out here, but it's nothing like north Shore. I love you so much bro. I hope you are loving your mission as much as I am. I'll do better on getting you some scriptures, but I want to hear back from you. Some Brother to brother writing would be nice.

Love Elder Adams

Sorry I keep thinking of more to write about. There are two grocery stores here in town, the names of which I have never heard of, SNYDERS and COUNTRY MARKET. We checked out both our first day here. I was smart and didn't shop a lot at the first one we went to, country market. My companion did. He was essentially robbed. Snyder's is better, but it is still twice as expensive as the Food 4 Less that we shopped at in North Shore. I would have thought that groceries would be less expensive in the country, but no they are way more expensive. So now we shop solely at Snyder's.
Oh this one you'll all love. When you come into town there's a brown barn shaped bar or pub. On the front is a large picture of a turkey and on the building is lettering that reads "Home of the Turkey Testicle Festival." We asked the member who drove us to Byron from transfers about this, and the tradition goes that every fall crowds gather, bikers from all over congregate, and tons of turkey testicles are cooked up. This I feel can only be something that could occur in a small town with nothing but corn and nuclear plant nearby.

Yours Truly,
Elder Adams

Send pictures of backpacks, and especially of josh's.
As for things that you could include in the package from the Girls in the ward. They could send the Hottest hot sauce they could find. I wanted to get some at the store, but everything is expensive and so I had to resist. You know I also love some good fruit. I can't really think of anything else, so surprise me.
Love Elder Adams