November 25, 2009

Ask and ye shall receive. Yeah I have some great scriptures for you. I've started reading the Book of Mormon again, I don't know how many times this is for me. I was in 1 Nephi and I thought of the words of Lehi, a father. This is the tree of life vision that Lehi has. I likened them to myself calling to you, my family, but dad I'd like you to think of yourself in the situation of Lehi as he calls to his family to come and partake of the fruit. Think of you dad, the patriarch of our family leading us to the tree of eternal life. The verses are 1 Nephi 8:11-13. I thought of myself in Lehi's shoes calling you my family. I wish you could feel and taste of the joy of a mission, to see these people and have these missionary experiences. It's unlike anything I could ever describe. It's like dream, unreal, something you would read about in a Ensign magazine. It's incredible I love it. That's why I thought of myself, saying "come and try this." A mission is the sweetest fruit, most desirable. It's the greatest experience. Dad I love you. I love how you and the family have all changed since I decided to go on a mission and then when I left. It's a blessing and an addition to my testimony of the blessings the Lord has to offer to families. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Love Elder Adams,

P.S. I sent mom an awesome bread pudding recipe that Marissa made for us. Make sure and beat Tyler good at ping pong for me.

Things are still going great with my companion. I love him. Thanks for asking.


Say hi to Your whole side of the family on Sunday for me. I haven't heard from any of them in a while. I know it makes it tough because I can't email, I can only write them letters. Let them know that I love them. Say hi to the cousins for me also.

So here's the recipe for the bread pudding that Marissa has made for us twice. It's AMAZING!

The Baltimore's Bread Pudding
Prep time: 15 min. Bake: 40 min.

8cups cubed day old bread
9 eggs
2 1/4 cup milk
1 3/4 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup sugar
3/4 butter, melted
3 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Caramel Sauce:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoon butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Place bread cubes in a greased 13 inx9inx2in baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, butter, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour evenly over bread. Bake uncovered, at 350 F for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting. Mean while, in a small sauce pan bring the sugar, water, and lemon juice to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook until sugar dissolves and mixture turns a golden amber color. Stir in butter until melted. Add cream. Remove from the heat. Serve with bread pudding. (Yield 12 servings).

You don't put the sauce over the whole batch of bread pudding, each person serves their own, then you save the sauce.

Also as far as Christmas goes. You could maybe get me 2 pair of thermal garments, but other than that don't get anything. Save it for if I need clothes or something when I get home, you can buy me something then, when I have things that I need. Don't do like last year and buy a printer that I don't even need or use. There is really nothing that you can get me, just save the money, you can get me something later. Enjoy the Bread pudding.
I sent in a paper for the insurance. She said she would only go up to 600 for the accident. It was a hard decision to make, it sort of felt wrong, but I eventually did it. She sent me an agreement for 600 and I signed and returned it. I should be getting a check here pretty soon, and I will send it home and have you put it in the bank for me (Savings account). Love ya, write back.
Nice, you're on. Yeah that bread pudding is insane. It's Chuck and Marissa's sons favorite. J.R. he's 17. So because of Thanksgiving we have a mixed schedule. Normally today is Prep day, but we only have from 10-1:00 to email and shop then our prep day ends. Tomorrow we have our planning session from 10:00-1:00 and then prep day from 1-6, so our prep day is split. It's one of a few new things president is doing.
I don't thinks so mom, that sounds a little ridiculous. I just put them on a cd, I don't know what I'm ever going to do with that thing in my lifetime. I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything because I am, it's just that I think you buy stuff just so that you can buy something. Right now while I'm on a mission there isn't need for things. Save it and you can get me something later when I'm in need. Don't just buy to buy. That's not what the holiday's are about anyway.
Also I still haven't used that applebees card you gave me last year. I haven't been near one, so ideas like gift cards to places aren't a good idea either. I have the American express cards that the grandma's gave me and I've used some of them. There's really nothing mom, I hope you will understand, it will be better if you save it for later.
Shane and Bambi are doing well. We had another great lesson with them this week. We plan to get them into a members home and be able to have dinner and teach them the law of chastity. They will have to get married or move out to be baptized, but they really love the church and what they are learning from us. They are a great family.
There are a few other prospective potentials that we hope to begin working with also.
Chuck and Marissa also received callings this week. They have been called and sustained as the new Branch Librarians, they are so excited about it. They are learning so fast also. Especially Marissa and her English is really coming along. She answers questions in Gospel Principles.
I'm plugging along at the Book of Mormon. It's great to be back in that book reading from it daily. It just makes things different and feels different. It's just as Pres. Hinkley says, that there will come a special spirit into your life, and it doesn't matter how many times you read it. It's good fuel for the day.
So president Doll instituted this new rule that when the tempurature is below 70 he wants us to have our suit coats on always, even if we have a rain coat on or a snow coat. We always have to have our suit coat on. So I'm basically going to have to wear the same pair of pants all winter of one of my suits. I also had to get out my big coat to wear so that it would cover the bottom of my suit coat. I couldn't wear my wool one anymore. That's the principle of obedience though, you just do it. President Doll told us this yesterday in a special combined district meeting. This is a tough one of obedience, and I can tell because my companion is not being to keen to keep it. I'm trying help Elder Bryner keep the suit coat rule. I've tried to say things very subtly, but I value our relationship too much to be outright "We need to keep this rule."
As far as Thanksgiving goes, I feel like people have just skipped completely over it. A week or two after Halloween people already had Christmas out. As soon as they got rid of the pumpkins for sale at the grocery stores they brought out the Christmas trees! It's insanity. So this is my last Thanksgiving in the mission, I'm hoping to make it a memorable one. It looks to be really good. Our ward mission leader brother Fomby is having us over. Marissa wanted to do a Thanksgiving with us the day before, but things got worked out so that now the Cromes, the Fomby's, us will be together. Sister Fomby has a friend from India that will also be coming over. It's going to be awesome to spend Thanksgiving with the Cromes. No offense but they do seem like family, after all we are all part of God's family. Marissa is so excited to cook and help out. They were going to spend Thanksgiving alone, just the three of them. I wasn't going to ask, but Sister Fomby asked what sort of things we traditionally have at Thanksgiving and what we like. I put in my word for yams. I was going to see if I would go two Thanksgivings without yams, nonetheless without moms yams, that would only make them taste that much better the next time I had them though. So she's going to make some yams, and I'll have to compare. My companion and I want to try and make something and bring it to the dinner. We think that would be awesome, and then everyone would question, "I don't know about that dish.....the missionaries?...cooking?..." Anyway this is going to be an awesome Thanksgiving, deffinately one to remember. This has been a good week though. We are continuing to see success and be blessed. So every 6 months I do this activity in Preach My Gospel. It asks you to think about your last day in the mission field and then asks you questions. I write a lot in my journal these days. Unfortunately it was that time again on Saturday to go through this activity, to ponder the questions and to write. Everytime I do this it is like a dagger to the heart. I read part of it to my companion and I lost it. It hurts to think about. Especially this time.
I love you all and I hope that you have a Happy Thanksgiving. (Twice, since you're celebrating it two days). I hope all is well, and you are continually in my prayers.

Love Elder Adams,

DC 98:1
Is there anything else that you wanted to say, because I need to get going. We've only got about an hour left of Preparation day.
Did you get the pictures that I emailed you last week?
I'll write you next week!!!