November 11, 2009

Hey mom I need to talk to you about the settlement that I received from state farm. I need to make sure that you received a copy of the statement and that what they are offering covers all of the medical bills and expenses. They are also offering me 500for pain and suffering. Write me back. I want to get this signed and taken care of. I need to know if all is right so that I can sign these papers and mail it back to them accepting their offer.
So you got to talk to Debbie when you dropped off the donuts, or did you leave them on their porch? Did you see Aaron, How's he doing? When you say Zach slipped out, do you mean that when you showed up he left, or he wasn't home when you went over. Does is seem like he's purposefully avoiding? Did they say anything about receiving any of my letters? I've been writing one every other preparation day.
First of all you don't need to send and email to his president. He's ok, don't panic. Yes, I did get the package for my birthday. Thank you so much it was perfect. So my birthday fell on Zone conference, so we were in that most of the day. During lunch they sing to all the missionaries that have had their birthday in the past transfer. Well mine was that day so they were singing to me on my actual day, Half of the mission singing to me!!! Marissa was actually the second person to say happy birthday to me. She called at about 8:00 in the morning when we were driving to Zone Conference and wished me a happy birthday, how neat is that. The only other person to beat her to the punch was my companion. This was really cool. Then after Zone Conference the former AP who was just released came up to me with a serious look on his face and asked if he could speak to me as he pointed to a room with the door closed. He opened the door and it was packed with Elders!! They bombarded me and swarmed me in a huge group hug as they wished me Happy birthday. This was good. It really made me feel special. I have lots of cool pictures of my companion picking me up over his head and me on top of a huge human tower. It made the day special. I didn't really feel like celebrating or doing anything, I planned on the celebration being the next day with Chuck and Marissa and Bill. My companion couldn't believe it, he said- No it's your birthday, you can do or go anywhere you want. Our investigator who is excommunicated ended up calling us and inviting us over for dinner so we went and did that. 21 didn't seem as weird as 20. I bore my testimony at zone conference, because I had really come to realize and feel some things. I've recognized that in my call letter, all of the blessings promised to me by the Lord for serving a mission, in the way that he asks, have been fulfilled. I looked at a copy of it that we had been given and as I looked at each promised blessing, memories from my mission came to my mind, and the spirit to testify that it had happened. It hit me. Every thing the Lord has promised me has been given to me. How incredible. The Lord always keeps his promises.
Saturday was the day though!!!! Wow, the baptism went so well. I just finished writing about it all in my journal yesterday. There was so much support out for Chuck and Marissa. So many branch members showed up. We had to set up more chairs. We had been making phone calls on Thursday night to get everyone there. We were filling the font all through the program, almost until it was time for the baptism itself. I baptized and confirmed both Chuck and Marissa. It was incredible. Normally they do the confirmation on sunday but that was Stake conference. I can't tell you how incredible this baptism was, and what it means to me. Their testimonies that they gave were incredible. Marissa's in her Philipino accent was so humble, simple, and powerful. They are so strong. So many members said that it was the most spiritual baptism that they have been to. We had everyone write their testimonies on a card while we changed out of our wet clothes. These we gave to Chuck and Marissa later on. The Branch also presented them with their own quad. I wrote my testimony and words of encouragement in Chucks and I have to write in Marissa's today. I'm also going to give them my last plan of Salvation puzzle. These two were so ready for baptism. They both talked about how good they felt after. It's interesting to talk to people after they're baptized and hear what it feels like. Here's some of what Chuck said in his testimony:"I know the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith is the Lord's prophet. We found the Church, this long journey we've been on, we found it through these young men knocking on our door. I thank God for these Missionaries." They really do appreciate what we do, and what we've brought to them. Marrissa's Testimony was incredible:"This is the greatest day of our life. Since I opened the door septiember 24, 2009 to Elder Adams and Elder Nowell, it opened the door to learn more of the gospel.....I testify all this.." It was incredible. I wish I had a video camera and tape recorder for this whole day. I started to cry at the end of the baptism when we sang "families can be together forever." It was the spirit testifying to me that the Lord has shown me how I can. This day was evidence of that. The Lord had shown the way to two others. I was talking to Sister Doll afterwards, and I started to cry again. I told her " I know that family is going to go to the temple." I do know it. The Chromes will be an eternal family, and a year from now they will have their marriage sealed in God's house. This baptism was so much different from all of the others, because it's a family. It will always hold special memories and feelings. They will be strong members, this is a family forever. This was such a happy time, I can't even tell you how great it was, to see all of the people, and to see Chuck and Marissa so happy.
The next item for the day was the temple. We thought it would take an hour and a half to get there, but it ended up taking 2 and I was even speeding. We got there a few minutes before 4:00, the time at which the session Bill would be going through would start. One of the workers I talked to said that he would hold the session and to hurry and change. We did, and then they said they were going to pull them all back into the Chapel and we would go through the next session. We went into the Chapel but Bill never came. When I talked to people again they said that it had already started. I was ripped in half. I had missed the most important moment on my mission. I wasn't going to be able to see Bill and to be with him. I was torn. I was so frustrated. There was nothing I could do. This was something I had looked forward to for so long, something that we intended to do from the beginning with Bill. One man gave us an offer to be able to meet him in the Celestial room. We did this. I can only tell you now that I prayed and pleaded with the Lord for the longest time on my knees. I needed comfort. I felt horrible. I hope to one day be able to recount to you all that learned during this time, and all that occured. I was instructed in the temple, even though I had not been through the session. One day when the spirit is right, hopefully I will share some of my lessons, feelings, and thoughts that I had during this time. It was a lot and cannot write it all now.
I saw Bill though, and I was the first to hug him, and I shed some tears. I had been waiting in prayer for a long time. He was just glad that I had made it, and at least I was there. I felt better after praying, but even better after talking to Bill. Eventually (think it was the Temple President) came up to Bill and I in the Celestial Room and asked if the two of us would like to take part in a sealing. We did. We got to be witnesses in a sealing. I've never done this before, so it was a first for Bill and I. There were a lot of ward members in support for Bill. We talked with a few members about how the missionaries who taught Bill were both there. I only got to see Elder Purdie (Chris) briefly and then he left. We were so long in the sealing session that he had taken off. After the temple, Bill took us to TGI Friday's for dinner. Then we had a long drive home and we got home after 10:30. I actually had my companion drive and I tried to sleep. What a day though.
The next day President Doll spoke in Stake Conference and had Chuck and Marissa stand, and introduced them as the newest members of the Rockford Stake!!! After the conference, I talked to Marissa and she says that now she doesn't seem to worry as much. What a blessing baptism and the comfort of the Holy Ghost. That's what that is that she is feeling in her life, the comfort of the gift of the Holy Ghost in her life. All the blessings that I promised them both in their confirmation will come true, I know it.
Well, that is three of the most important and eventful days of my life to date. It would be hard to string together 3 days with more in them than these 3. It was an incredible weekend. I am so thankful for the opportunities that I was given this weekend. For Chuck and Marissa and Bill. To be a part of these people's lives. That Heavenly Father has allowed me to serve a mission and to take part in such sacred ordinances with three of his choice children. I am overfilled with gratitude for this. It is such a priviledge and a blessing. I don't know where or how I could ever have chances or moments like these. I will always treasure and hold them dear. Chuck and Marissa are on the path, and Bill continues on. I'd like to think I had a part, but it's the Lord's work. He allowed me to be here. He put me here, he made sure I changed my course so that I could be here, and help them along the way. He's made me a tool in his hand. I love my mission more that life itself, it is along with my testimony the most important thing in my life. I hold and treasure it. My mission means more to me than one can ever know. I love these experiences and these feelings that I'm having out here. I am blessed in more ways than I can imagine, or deserve. Nonetheless I am so thankful for what I have been able to be a part of and to witness this weekend. I am so thankful that I was able to exercise the priesthood, in performing the baptism and the confirmation. Who would have thought that I would be worthy and trusted to do this. I am so thankful. I bear testimony of the Savior, that he lives, that he speaks with God's prophet-Thomas S. Monson on the earth today. The Book of Mormon, and the scriptures are true, and this is the Lord's work, or which I have been called to do. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Elder Adams

I need you to get online so that I can discuss this with you. I'm about to leave the library though.
Maybe you can get online next week and we can talk about the $ settlement, plan on that. Also I might be able to sell my backpack to my companion for about $60.
I'll probably send home a ton of pictures after Thanksgiving. It's going to be a ton.
All right, the ship is sailing. Catch you next week. Remember 10:30 my time is when I get on.