October 21, 2009

Dad, great words of encouragement. Thank you so much. That's intense that you might be driving a bus. Although from things Josh has said, and from you getting these new Jobs, I'm worried. Is money tight at home? I told you guys that I worked hard at Costco, my bank account is open, use it to pay for my mission, to pay for bills, whatever you need it for. You don't have to do this all alone, pay for two missionaries out here. 
Anyway I love you dad. You're awesome.

Love your son,
Elder Adams

Mom, you can't do that to me with that poem, it was great, but you can't do that to me. Thanks for finding out some info about Zach, I will keep trying. I have sent him several letters, and have also written his mom and Aaron. Maybe stop by their house and bring some Halloween treats.
This week deffinately held it's struggles for Elder Nowell and I. We had a rough Sunday. My companion wanted to go over on Tuesday (His birthday) to a members home, where the parents would not be home and where it would just be the daughter and her younger brother, and she was going to cook us dinner, and we’d eat outside. He got really mad when I told him no, that’s not a good idea. I told him that I didn’t feel good about it. This just led to more problems and if I even looked at him it set him off. When we went back to the apartment to take lunch he was not happy. I couldn’t get him to leave the apartment. I told him we could call president and ask about the situation. I ended up calling President, but it took forever for him to get back to us. So I was stuck. President eventually called back and talked to both of us and explained to Elder Nowell the rules of the white handbook,a nd that it was not a good idea to go over to this members home without an adult there, even if we did eat outside. Shortly after more discussion we were able to go and get to work, but he wasn’t talking to me. I’m trying to do some soul searching to see what I can do to help the situation, to have the Lord reveal to me what my flaws are so that I can change. There’s been some contention let’s just say, and rough nights before bed, but there is hope smiling brightly because………….
We were able to have an incredible meeting with Chuck and Marissa last Thursday and we are meeting with them tomorrow. I had been praying that they would be prepared to receive the commandments and they were. Marissa had already been thinking about the changes that she would make. She easily accepted the commitment to stop drinking coffee. Chuck accepted the commitment to stop drinking coffee and quit smoking but is struggling. We are meeting with them again tomorrow and we plan to teach the quit smoking program. This is Elder Nowell's first time teaching it, so we have really been working to prepare and get ready for this. Chuck and Marissa also both came to church this Sunday, and they seemed to love it!!!! They also brought their sixteen year old son J.R. Chuck felt really good that he was able to get him to come, and so he asked for a copy of the Book of Mormon for J.R. This is like a miracle family. Chuck has said that sometimes he comes home from work to stop by the house at around midnight and he'll find Marissa in bed reading from the Book of Mormon. Marissa has even said that since she has watched conference on BYU TV that she now likes to watch that channel. They both are so interested and want to take in all that they can. They members of the Branch really loved seeing them at Church, and Chuck really hit it off with a number of members. Members have been asking us who they are what their story is. I think excitement about missionary work, might be starting to get going. Chuck told us that he feels that he and Marissa have both had experiences in their lives that have led them to this. When Chuck introduced he and his wife in Gospel Principles class he said that, "One of the questions he'd always had was why God stopped talking to man 2,000 years ago...?"-"Now we are getting that question answered." It sounded like something off of the mormon.org testimonials part of the web page, I couldn't believe it! Marrissa is also an incredible cook! She made some great Phillipino food for us last time. She made a shrimp dish, a rice and beef dish, and something similar to miniature egg rolls, called Lumpia (Loompia). It was really good. She also made this bread pudding with this sauce that was incredible. I will get the recipe for it tomorrow. They have invited us to have dinner before with them again tomorrow before our lesson. They are such and incredible couple. Hopefully this time their son will join in with us. They are taking to this gospel with all they have. It’s so exciting to introduce them to members at church and to have them preparing for baptism. This is such an exciting time. You don’t know how exciting this is. I pray so much for them. This is like looking forward and preparing for a big vacation, except more. It just makes you so happy to see them. I LOVE IT, I can’t get enough of this experience of teaching Chuck and Marissa. I look forward to each time we see or meet them. They are both looking forward to the baptism. Marissa asked if she needs to get clothes. We told her we would take care of that. November 7, is when the baptism is set for, which is Chuck’s birthday. He’s excited about this. I pointed out to him how this day will have symbolism of birth in more than one way. He’ll celebrate his birth into this world, and being “born again” and a newness of life with his baptism.Up and coming this Sunday, we have organized and been preparing for the past almost 2 months, for an invitational Sunday. Where the members invite their friends to church. Sacrament meeting and everything is dedicated solely to Jesus Christ. Our mission President is coming to speak and then there will be some refreshments afterwards. We’ve been encouraging members to invite their friends, and this will be great for Chuck and Marissa. Then our Branch President has invited us over to his house to eat with President and Sister Doll! Then also transfers are next Wednesday.
Yesterday was also my companions 20th birthday. Which went really well. He was pretty excited. OH, so last Wednesday we had a special Zone Conference with Elder Jones of the second quorum of the seventy. Wow!! This was awesome. President and Sister Doll didn’t say too much, it was mostly instruction from Elder Jones. It was great though. I learned so much, I was writing notes down in my study journal, writing things in Preach my Gospel, absorbing everything I could. I felt like I was back in the MTC learning again. It was that kind of feeling. I loved it, it really took me back. I loved the MTC, because you learned so much, and that’s what this was like. It was just powerfull. Then there was a special meeting afterwards with President, Elder Jones, and all of those in Leadership positions. We discussed how we can take what we had learned back to our districts. Elder Jones placed responsibility on us as leaders. I got to shake his hand after and tell him how I’d felt like I was back in the MTC again. This was an incredible day. Find, teach, baptize, and retain, that was the battle cry. That was the slogan we received. Oh I love it, doing the work!! It went by so fast (Another attribute of learning a lot and being in the MTC).
My Gospel study has been incredible. I've had some spiritual experiences this week as the Savior has drawn me close during times of trial. There's been some rough patches, and it's incredible how you feel alone for a time and then the Lord reaches out and pulls you in. You feel the spirit the most in the hard times. I've done a lot in Preach My Gospel lately also, in the way of study activities, and I have learned alot. John 15 is incredible!!! This has just been a week of trial,tears,frustration, and learning, and enlightenment. I've written so much in my study journal. I Love it!!!!!
Elder Nowell came out on Monday morning for companionship study and has said that he wants to have this be a good week. We've had a drought of good, and so far now things have been good. I am thankful for this. He wants to make it a good one, solid. We will need it if we are to teach Chuck and Marissa, I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

I love you so much mom.

Love Elder Adams

Thanks for the pictures. You all look so different. It's good to see you all though. Spencer is a tall little totem pole....dad I hope you're still able to chop him down from down there every once in a while when he gets out of line. HA AH HA HA. Bill really likes you guys, he had a great time. We are looking forward to going through the temple, working out the logistics of things though. I love you.