September 2, 2009

You do exist.....Awesome!! No, I'm just kidding, I know that you work hard. I'm so grateful for all that you do and all the sacrifices that you make. You're a great example of work ethic for me. I don't think there is a corn maize out here, for the simple fact that I don't think there would be anyone to go to it!!! 
That's the thing with scripture study, there's never going to be time where you'll just be sitting around and say "Hmmm, I've got some free time what should I do...oh look there's my scriptures sitting on the table." There are too many things that compete for time and so the only way to make it happen is to set aside time, to say this is when I'll do it and nothing can get in my way. The other option is to couple it with things that you already do anyway, like eating breakfast or something. That's just how it has to be, because there's no such thing as free time to just read the scriptures. As missionaries we have it easy because we have 2 hours in the morning set aside to do it. Anyway it's good to hear from you and I love you tons. Keep being the great dad that you are!!!

Love Elder Adams

Hey, so I don't know what to get you for your Birthday. I'm at a loss. I'm excited to hear about soccer, but not about snowboarding. Winter does not excite me!! The leaves are starting to change here and the mornings are getting colder, this is not good. It's too early. I finished the Book of Mormon today also. How was your experience at Tucano's, you never told me about it. Thank you so much for your testimony bud. Keep working hard in school.

Love Elder Adams

The branch here in the area is small, and we are lucky if there is 70 at church on Sunday. We've had some rain here also, but the scariest thing is the trees. That's right, the leaves on some of them are starting to change. As for the mornings, it's starting to get colder also. When we were running across this bridge over a river it was really misty and foggy, I'm working on getting a picture. I fear the winter coming and it's coming too soon, because that's what leaves changing mean.
On Saturday we had Lunch at our ward mission leader's house and met to discuss a presentation we had to do on Mormon.org for church. He is a vegetartian, so he made us mushroom tacos. The mushrooms he had picked from the forest and he had grown all the veggies and peppers in his garden. He made his own blue corn tortillas and even had picked some lambs quarters. He's quite the vegetarian, but it was actually really good.
I held my first exchange on Thursday with the Elders from Freeport. Everything went well. I have another exchange this Thursday and then one with the Zone leaders. This Friday I will also be conducting my first baptismal interview for two baptismal candidates in Freeport! I do all the baptismal interviews for candidates in the district. I never had any that weren't people that I was teaching in North Shore, so this will be an exciting new experience.

We did have a miracle occur last week. We were out tracting and we were nearing the end of the street and we had one house left. As we were crossing the intersection of two small streets, off on the side street I noticed some two story apartments. I had the prompting come to me that we needed to knock those Now. I thought no I just want to keep walking and get to the end of the street.....we can tract that street later. Again the prompting came, it was almost like a pushing, nagging feeling to do it now. I tried to put it off several times. Finally I stopped and told my companion, "We need to knock these apartments now." He asked the same question I had, why not just finish the street. I said ok but we need to do it on the way back. My companion then agreed with me that now was best. As we approached the building there was a man in one of the 2nd story windows. He asked who we were with, and I began to explain to him who we are the a little about the message we share. After talking with him for a while he explained that he had been looking for a church, and that he was going through some trials and tribulations. He then said that he had seen us walking and wanted to see what we are about so he had stayed by the window! I couldn't believe what this man was telling us. He gave us his information, but he lives in Milwaukee and was just here visiting. I'd have to think that if I hadn't listened to that prompting of the Spirit, and I know that is what it was, that Steve is his name, would have seen us walk by and moved on to something else. This was an opportunity and God was working on both ends to make sure that we made contact. It's incredible when things like this happen.
On Sunday a call came into the church library and one of the members came and told me someone wanted to speak with missionaries. I spoke with the man on the other line; His name Robert Rushing. He explained that he was a member and wanted to get back to church. He hadn't been in about 3 years, but now felt prompted by the Spirit to go. He had moved around and had lost contact with the church and missionaries and made contact again through the internet. We met with him later that day, and read from the scriptures with him, which he still had. Contact with this man seems to be another of God's miracles as he leads and guides us.I completed the Book of Mormon today and I am now planning to read the JSH, as I have never read it before.

I'm not going to lie mom, and I've talked to my companion about this a few times. I feel distant from you and the family. It's almost like I don't know if you are real people. I read your emails and I know your names, but it's almost as if I wonder is there really a person named Spencer, DeLaun, or Julie out there. I don't know if it has something to do with being transfered out of North Shore where I had been for so long. I haven't told you about this, but it's something that's now on my mind. I don't know why, I just don't think I know or that I'm connected to you. Sort of like if my family is real. It's a weird thought. I don't think it has anything to do with anything you've done. It's just a weird feeling that I've had. Like I said though I've talked with my companion about it a little.
My companion and I have been having some difficulties lately. We had interviews with President Doll on Monday and he told us that we will be staying together for this next transfer. This is the only way to do it, I’m not a quitter. Transfers are next Wednesday, so this transfer is only 5 weeks long, but the next transfer will be 7 weeks long to even everything out.
Elder Nowell and I are going to make this next transfer work. This will truly be one trial for both of us that will shape us into something better, and that will work together for our good. I'm thinking of it this way: The hotter the fire the softer the metal gets, the softer the metal the easier it is for the blacksmith to bend and shape, and great changes can be made to the piece of iron. In this way we can be better refined into something sharper and of greater use. I've got to stand firm in the Lord's hand as I pass through the flame, and be steady in his hand, then can he shape me. I know of no tool that I have ever used that has ever wriggled out of my hand or done contrary to what I have moved it to do. This is the kind of tool that I need to be, a tool that lets the Lord move it. Even if it means he wants to make me into something else through the fires of trial.I bear you this my testimony that Christ Jesus our Savior lives, he died for you and I and knows more perfectly than anyone our pains and our weaknesses. Call upon him, plead in the earnesty of your heart and he will make what you are not. A young boy did just that in a grove of trees, Joseph Smith, and became the prophet of the Restoration. Christ's Church is here on the earth, and I am a part of it. I am doing the Lord's work, and what a great work it is. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

I'm not going to lie to you. I lost it, that hurt. I broke down right here in the library and had to walk off for a bit. I'm not going to be mad at you for holding this back, I know that you did what you thought was best. I'm more disappointed that he didn't write to me. I'm going to pray harder for him than every before. I'm going to try and write to him. This is a tough one and it hits hard, but Zach and I have been through a lot together. This will be another forging link in our relationship. I'm going to fast and pray for him this weekend. If there is one thing that I have learned about trials and the ways of the Lord, it's that they work together for our good. That as we stand in the dark and wonder and trip over things and even at times curse in pain and frustration because we can't see how any of what we are going through can be good. That the Lord has a plan that is later revealed, and we soon see that God is in control and that his purposes are greater. We don't see it then but it is soon revealed. Soon we wonder through that darkness and come to a door, where through a small hole in that door there is a room filled with light. It is here that the Lord has been watching us. He then can invite us into his presence and we begin to see why. This we enjoy until it is again time to go into another room. The hatred and the anger that I felt towards life, God, and the world, during a time in my life, it hurt, but the Lord was preparing, and I see more and more his purposes. For Zach this too shall pass. I don't have much time. I'm going to eat lunch, Shop, and then I'll see if I can make it back here around 2 or 2:30 my time. I love you,

Elder Adams

Hey mom I'm back online. I only have a short while. I got the picture of the backpack. It's hard to see how big it is, it's a side picture. It looks really nice though. I don't really want to spend more money on a new one though if I can just make this one work. I would probably get it though if I could sell the ogio backpack and just use the money from that one to purchase it. Otherwise I don't think I need to get a new backpack. Let me know your thoughts, if you think you can sell it.
Well, it's been tough. I've been thinking about it, and I probably will continue to think about it. It will be a matter of prayer. I'm sorry that we didn't get to talk. I'll push through this one too. I'm going to do everything I can to support Zach. I love you and I will hear from you next week.

Love Elder Adams