September 30, 2009

so sorry to inform you, but the package came empty in our mailbox. The postal service put the opened envelope in another envelope. Somebody must have opened it and taken whatever was inside, or it came open. I did get the picture of Spencer, that's all there was. I'm on email me back.
This has been a tough week not only for Elder Nowell and I, but for investigators keeping their appointments and commitments. We are struggling to get them to come to Church. We dropped off the Book of Mormon in Tagalog to Marissa, and she was very grateful for that. Tagalog is the language they speak in the Philipines. We are hoping to invite them to Conference on Friday when we meet with them. Hopefully they will be able to keep this commitment. Consequently because of lack of appointments we have done a lot of tracting. We have found some great people. I'm noticing with this transfer thus far that it's not so much the quantity of the contacts that we are having, but we are having some high quality contacts. We have met two families that live right next to each other that are incredible. One of them, the Olsen's, seem to be more interested; especially in General Conference this weekend. The Vetter's on the other hand, he invited us right in and wanted to give us money for food. Both families took time to hear our message. We actually met the Olsen's yesterday after having worked some things out between Elder Nowell and I. It was an incredible meeting. This woman didn't know if God heard her prayers, she said that her and her husband had been looking for a Church, and Elder Nowell and I taught and testified so well together. They are excited about what we shared with them. Elder Nowell and are continuing to work together, and to forgive and forget, and move forward. That’s one thing that I’ve noticed, when we aren’t getting along we don’t have the spirit with us and the people don’t listen to us. Interviews with President yesterday were very helpful.
It’s always tough sometimes mom, yesterday one of the other missionaries had taken the car key and they had decided to go into a burlington coat factory and look at ties even though it was preparation day. We had to go over there and get the key from them. My companion and I were having a difficult time as it was, and then he said he wanted to look at ties too. I had to be bad guy and say we shouldn’t do that, let’s go. I could tell he sat and talked with the other Elders, I got some looks from him. He mumbled some things to me. That feeling is such a hard one. Once again, why is it it so hard, why aren’t the missionaries that I’m serving with; especially my companion, why are they against rules that are so plain. The way I see it, I’ve got the rest of my life to go into these stores and look around, but I only have this time to work and to share the gospel. It was a tough day yesterday, the past couple of days really. I’ve made some mistakes of my own, and my companion and I are trying to do better together. I could probably tell you a lot of everything that has happened, but I don’t want to dwell on the negative.
So HERE’S SOME GOOD NEWS. I had permission from President Doll to call Bill Murray a couple days ago, to see when he was going to go through the temple to take out his endowments. He returned my phone call Monday night. He said that he had actually been thinking about me and that he had tried to get the number for our cell phone here in Byron, but was unable to get into contact with any of the missionaries in the city. He was surprised when he came home and he found a message on his answering machine from me, and our phone number. Inspiration or coincidence? Anyway, He’s looking at going through the temple the first week in November! This is great news but it gets better. He’s coming to UTAH! He leaves tomorrow. He said that he bought a whole new wardrobe, a digital camera, and then he thought he’d need some music to listen to so he bought an ipod touch. However he soon found out that his computer was too old to sync up with his ipod so he bought a laptop too. He ended up spending about 2 Grand. The news continues. I told him to give you a call today or tomorrow and to meet up with you. He has your number. I told him I’d give you his it is, 312-259-6826. He’s coming with a couple other members from the Chicago first ward to go to conference. He’ll be there from Oct 1-8. Part of the time I think he’s staying with Elder Purdie and part of the time in Salt Lake City. I don’t know you’ll have to talk to him. Also he has extra tickets to the Priesthood session, and possibly some of the other sessions. I told him that Dad and Spencer would love to go with him to the Priesthood Session, and he liked that idea. I think it will be so awesome. You will all get to meet Bill, who has been the assistant ward mission leader in the first ward for a while now. During the summer I attended a baptismal service in which he conducted. Who would of thought that a year later Bill Murray would be conducting a baptism a year after his own. When you get in contact with Bill take lots of pictures with him and I want to see some of them. Have fun, he’s really excited to go to Utah.
I’m really excited for conference this weekend, it’s my companions first one on his mission, and sadly I will only have one more. I’ve been praying for the Apostles and the prophet to receive revelation on the things that I need to hear, and that I will be prepared to be instructed. I really can’t believe it’s time for conference again.
I have the announcement for the Turkey Testical festival, the signs are up- it is October 10. My companion and I have made a commitment to each other that we are both going to try one. We talked to a lady at one of the other bars here in town, and she says it’s a big weeked not just for the bar that hosts the festival , but for them as well. A lot of bikers come into town. Maybe we’ll give out a copy of the Book of Mormon to a biker. I’ll take lot’s of pictures. The manager at the bar that we spoke with who we had given a finding faith in Christ dvd to, said that she had tried the turkey testicles and she said that they taste like chicken, but isn’t that what they say about everything.
Anyway here is the scriptures that have been inspiring to me this week. (DC 62:6, 82:10, 130:20-21) this is one set that goes together in a scripture chain about obedience. Then Romans 9:20-21. DC 64:9-10 and DC64:23.
I love you all so much. I looked at Spencer’s picture and I hardly recognize him anymore. HE looks different, a lot older. He’s got broad shoulders now. Yeah he looks totally different, but it doesn’t seem like time has passed. It’s a scary thing. I love you all and enjoy the scriptures and Conference, go with an attitude to feel and not “Here I am teach me.” Try and be the one to actively seek and to try and see what the spirit is trying to teach you. It will be special. A prophet of God and 12 Apostles here on the earth, the same as when Christ was here. Imagine that, I don’t think we often grasp the gravity of this. We will hear from them this weekend. They truly are living oracles of God, set apart to receive revelation for us in this dispensation. They are here to guide us, this is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

That 2 Timothy scripture is a great one. That's actually one that I have thought the same thing about: Being able to say exactly that at the end of my mission. So that cake sounds good. Anyway this weekend is your first General Conference in the mission, it's my companions also. I still remember my first in the mission, and it seems like it was just yesterday. This weekend is going to be incredible, I am so excited. We have met some incredible families here this past week. One guy let us right and wanted to buy us groceries or give us money for food. The other house we talked to the wife for a while, she didn't know if God heard her prayers, and she said that she'd been looking for a church, Her and her husband, but hadn't found a place that she felt comfortable. We sat and talked with her in the garage and I share with her about the atonement. She seemed so appreciative of everything we shared, she is really excited to try and watch conference at the Church with us. Hopefully we can teach these two families. The first family, the Father, he's just the nicest guy ever, he said: If you ever need money or anything just come by. He really wanted to help us out. Anyway how Great this work is. Here's the scriptures that have impressed upon me certain thoughts this week. DC 62:6, 82:10, 130:20-21, this is a set on obedience to go in a chain. Then Romans 9:20-21 and DC 64:9-10 and vs. 23. I love you Bro. Keep working hard and loving every minute of your mission. I'm glad to hear the language is coming along great.

LOve Elder Adams

Yeah we watch conference at the Church building also, but most members can watch it on cable tv. However all of the Branch is coming to the Sunday morning session and then we will have food in between sessions.
My companion has been on a baking spree this past couple of nights. He stayed up a few nights till who knows when. This member gave us a bunch of ingredients, and another member gave us a cookbook with 400 different kinds of cookie, bar, and muffin recipes. He's been experimenting trying different ones. He's tried some of his own additives. His first ones he burnt, and he ended up using the rest of the batter to make muffins. He's going baking insane. When we knock doors, we often talk about his next idea. It's a strange impulsive obsession that he has now. He just gets the urge to bake now at night.

Elder Adams.

What happened to everybody else? Is Spencer and Dad OK. Have Spencer follow up with Aaron, I still haven't received his letter that you said he sent to me. Have him ask Zach if he got my letter, I wrote him two weeks ago, and I think that I'll write him again today. Tell Spencer to get as much information as he can from Aaron at school.