December 2, 2009

Oh man....it's time to battle the winter storms again. I've dreaded these days since I opened my call letter. I've got to face them again. Here we go!! Thanksgiving was awesome. Probably one of the Best every. Everything is better on a mission, I'm just going to tell you that. I don't want you to feel like you're not loved but, it's just good on a mission. We had our Thanksgiving with the Cromes (who were just baptized), and the Fomby Family. It was so great to have the Cromes there. My companion and I actually baked 2 pies to take over there. Everyone was impressed, a lot of people don't think that missionaries can cook. My companion made a banana cream pie, and I made this pie that we got a recipe for from a lady while we were out knocking doors the day before Thanksgiving. She had just finished baking it and we commented on the smell of her house. We then asked her for the recipe and she wrote it down. We then embarked the attempt. It worked out. No one tried it though, I didn't even try it on Thanksgiving, I was too full. I tried it on Sunday though, and it is amazing!! It's called Tollhouse pie. 

I really liked your testimony dad. Thanks for you love and support. This Church is so true. If only people knew this. A lot of people don't realize what they are missing. I've often times said that people look at the faith in God and religion like buying a refrigerator, you don't buy a new one unless the old one is broken. Regardless of if there is something out there that is bigger better and will save more energy. People are content to just make do with what they have, regardless of if we tell them that there is more out there, and we tell them of the blessings that their families can have. What did you think of the scriptures? I love you dad, Have a great week.

Love Elder Adams

I don't know if that's enough of a reason to buy a whole printer though. And Now to have to buy ink...I can make these homemade Christmas cards at the stores where you print off pictures. If that's all I'm going to use it for it makes more sense to just do it that way. I like the idea though, to make a homemade Christmas card!!!! Thank you so much, now that is a genius idea!!!!
The Fomby's are going to be sending you a Check for 600 written out to you. You can then deposit the check in your account and then transfer 600 from your account to mine. I then will give my check to the Fomby's to put in their account. This way I don't have to mail a check that I've endorsed in the mail and have it get stolen. Bro Fomby is our ward mission leader. I'll be online for 15 more min.
Thanksgiving was awesome. Probably one of the Best every. Everything is better on a mission, I'm just going to tell you that. I don't want you to feel like you're not loved but, it's just good on a mission. We had our Thanksgiving with the Cromes (who were just baptized), and the Fomby Family. It was so great to have the Cromes there. Ok, so mom I love your yams....they are good, but....Sister Fomby made some amazing sweet potatoes!!!! The only down side was that she made the sweet potato part thin. It was like half topping half sweet potatoe. It was amazing though. I like how yours has the deeper dish yam part. However she did make an amazing topping. Her husband is in the navy and they have traveled the world. She got her recipe from when they were in Cairo, Egypt. She used pecans, brown sugar, and coconut. The Fomby's also had a friend of there's over that had flown in from New York. She has a british accent, because she has lived in London, but she is actually from Egypt!! She's muslim also. She was really interesting to talk to. She sat by me at the table, and it is incredible how much the muslim faith has in common with us. They are closer to us than half of the other Christian churches out there that we talk to. They even believe in 3 kingdoms of glory after this life. She's really nice. The Fomby's even had a nice warm fire going. My companion and I actually baked 2 pies to take over there. Everyone was impressed, a lot of people don't think that missionaries can cook. My companion made a banana cream pie, and I made this pie that we got a recipe for from a lady while we were out knocking doors the day before Thanksgiving. She had just finished baking it and we commented on the smell of her house. We then asked her for the recipe and she wrote it down. We then embarked the attempt. It worked out. No one tried it though, I didn't even try it on Thanksgiving, I was too full. I tried it on Sunday though, and it is amazing!! It's called Tollhouse pie.
We came into contact with a less active family, the Whitts. The parents and 8 children were baptized in 2005, but fell away in 2007. The mother used to be Catholic and has now gone back. The whole family now attends a catholic church. This all happened when the husband cheated on the wife (they are still married though). They were preparing to go to the temple and everything. This led to her having sort of a mental breakdown. She was in tears as we talked with her and her husband. They said that everyone was nice when they first came into the Church but when the crisis struck they felt like they didn't have the support they needed. So It's now become the project for Elder Bryner and I to bring this family back, and to solidify the Cromes. They need to be grounded in some solid branch member friendships. As I listened to this families story I couldn't help but think of the newly baptized Cromes. I was worried for them. I don't want to see the same thing happen to the Cromes.

I had an incredible exchange with Elder Rudd. Declaring repentance and warning of the consequences of sin!! We were bold!!! It was incredible!!! We did a lot of tracting, but it was so powerful. It's this new whole idea of promising blessings, bearing testimony, and then telling them flat out what they will be missing out on if they don't do it. If they don't accept the message, or if you are teaching someone, you warn them of what will happen if they don't start keeping a certain commandment or if they don't come to Church. You be bold and upfront, you tell it how it is!!!! I love it, you feel like one of the ancient prophets of old declaring repentance!!!! You're raising the warning voice!! It feels so good. Nothing beats those feelings of testifying on someone's doorstep, and walking away knowing you've fulfilled your purpose and done your duty. You feel really good at the end of the day. I love it!!! This Church is so true. If only people knew this. A lot of people don't realize what they are missing. I've often times said that people look at the faith in God and religion like buying a refrigerator, you don't buy a new one unless the old one is broken. Regardless of if there is something out there that is bigger better and will save more energy. People are content to just make do with what they have, regardless of if we tell them that there is more out there, and we tell them of the blessings that their families can have.

Josh: All I can say is continue onward. The Lord will bless you for declaring the word with unwarryingness, as long as you are doing what you know you are supposed to be doing. Read Helamen 10:3-6, just keep this in mind. You just keep on declaring. There will be many a missionary who lacks in zeal. You know your purpose, work hard and the lord will lead you by the hand, and he will bless you. He ALWAYS recognizes his faithful servants hard work. I promise you this in all the time of my service on my mission. Stay strong brother and keep it going. Sometimes your companions won't want to obey certain rules or won't want to talk to people or won't want to tract, but you and I know why we are out here and why we have been called so we can do what we have been called to do no matter what stands in our way. We go out every day because there are countless drops of the Saviors precious blood that have already been spilt for our brothers and sisters and if they don't know about our message then they can't repent and take advantage of his gift and sacrifice and blood falls unnoticed and unnaccounted for. We have to bring this gift to them. The Savior has already felt the pain, we cannot let it go to waste, we have a duty to fulfill for our salvation and for theirs. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

I love you Elder Josh Adams.


I've got to go now we are getting together as a zone to play some basketball in Rockford. I love you all.

Love Elder Adams