October 14, 2009

Great job on missionary work. The only problem is, we will be able to pass this on to the missionaries there, but they will then have to look up in the phone book for a house number that fits the names, or they will have to tract out all of Lotus street. See if you can get more information next time (a phone number, house number, etc.)
Sorry I forgot to tell you last week that my preparation day would be on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. The reason being we have a special Zone conference on Wednesday with Elder Jones of the seventy, so they changed the day. It should be really exciting.
Anyway so it has deffinately cooled off, a lot. We had out first freeze on Saturday. During the day I say a few snowflakes fall. It's been cold during the day, and so now I've been wearing my wool down filled jacket. Saturday was also the Turkey Testicle Festival. There were a ton of bikers in town, and they were blasting the music from the host bar. You could hear the noise of the bike engines firing up. The downside, you had to be 21 just to get into the fenced off area. They had blocked off a street and fenced it in including the host bar, Union Station "Home of the Turkey Testicle Festival." It also would have cost us $10, which would have been donated to charity. The $10 would have bought us our first drink and a small cup of Turkey Testicles. We weren't getting in, so I stood by the edge of the fence and tried to talk to one of the security guards. He said if he could he try and grab us a cup of 'nuts', so that I could try one. I eventually coaxed him into tapping the shoulder of a lady walking by with her own cup of turkey family jewels. I had her come over to the fence where I stood and I asked her if I could just try one. They were a little smaller than marbles, about the size of a skittle. Little brown morsels. I grabbed one, but I think it was all breading, so I snagged another. It tasted just like fried dark meat of a turkey. Not too bad! I had my companion and Sister Ashley's son (the one who just moved in with her and is a former member), come over and try one. This lady was nice enough to let us all try a Turkey Testicle. There you go now I've tried Turkey Testicle. I wanted to at least get a T-shirt, but I didn't get that either. That was the excitement of the Turkey Testicle Festival. Not exactly the place to be as a missionary anyway, unless you've got some black leather and like to drink.
Great News! Chuck and Marissa Crome have a baptismal date for November 7!!!!!!! Chuck readily accepted the commitment and then Marissa followed. I had extended the commitment. I almost hesitated and didn't ask the question, but I thought to push on with it. Both of them were sincere in their answer of acceptance. Chuck was really excited about this because this date happens to be his birthday! I'm so excited for them, oh It felt so good. After all of the tracting and knocking doors, after all of the problems Elder Nowell and I have had. We have a couple on baptismal date. They are somewhere in their forties or 50's. She is Philipino and he is American. He was in the Navy when they met. We even had a member present with us at this lesson. Chuck and Marissa's progress continued, as they came to church on Sunday for the first time. They were only able to come to Priesthood and Relief Society, but they loved it. Chuck seemed to quickly make friends with one of the members, and many in Relief Society thought that Marissa was a member. They are both reading the Book of Mormon at a quick pace. These two really are an incredible couple. They have invited us over for dinner on Thursday. Marissa is going to treat us to some traditional Phillipino cuisine, and we will have a lesson afterwards. I think Chuck really recognizes this as one of the many positive changes in their life right now, since they just moved into their new home a little over two months ago. I'm so excited for them. This morning when I was running on the treadmill I couldn't stop thinking about them, hoping that they make their baptismal date, and thinking about teaching appointments with them. Time seemed to pass by quickly.
We had exchanges this week with the Sterling Elders. I had a great exchange in Sterling with Elder Cuentez. He is a great missionary, and his heart truly is in the work. He has the spirit and he knows why he is out here. I really enjoyed being with him, and I was able to pick up some tips on working with companions. He's just a great Elder!
Keep the Crome family in your prayers, along with myself and my companion. I love you all and I'm so grateful for the sacrifices that you make for me.

Love, Elder Adams

P.S.- The cold is upon me, pray for me to stay warm. It's time to face my fears again.

Hopefully you've read my email, prep day was changed just for this week because of a special zone conference on wednesday. Next week preparation day will be on wednesday. Hopefully you didn't have anything important to tell me. I still haven't received the package though.
I'm Online, just hoping that by chance you will get online. It looks like it's not going to happen.