Hey mom I'm online. I'm going to pick up my contacts today. I bought them from a store called Meijer.
Here's what my mission president wrote this week, I think he's really excited about Elgin, and Elder Layton and I working together.
Wow, you really have a number of great people that you are working with. It sounds like some miracles have happened for you has you have found people to teach. Thank you for your good works. And, thank you for your work with Elder Matheson.
I look forward to great things from you and Elder Layton. Remember to focus on having good relationships with others, including the members of your district, the members of your ward, and your companion. Be sure that your proselyting program includes the ideas of both of you. You both have a lot of experience that you can pool together to make things be on fire in Elgin. These last few transfers are those in which you can apply all of the things that you have learned up to now in the mission.
Have a wonderful week.
Nice well done, you are online. How are things going today. We don't have
much planned, just errands and shopping. I'm going to try the printer at wal-mart today.
If it's been over a year you have to get an eye exam in order to purchase contacts they won't let you buy them otherwise.
There were days when I would work at costco and I think I did like 11 days straight. You're learning the value and principle of enduring to the end.
So josh do you have a car now or are you by uban, or bahnhoff or still on
a bike? Oh and Josh, is schnitzel like a meat that's been breaded and fried, am I remembering right? So you say that you cook for your companion, are you becoming quite the chef. What is it that you make? We haven't been able to cook much lately. Speaking of food. This friday we are going over
to a philipino ladies house and she is going to cook philipino food for us. Specifically something called balute (buh-loot). What it is a partially
formed duck or chicken egg. It's about 13 days old, and the baby is basically fully formed and you eat it out of the egg, so that will be an experience to be had this friday. I will take pictures and let you know how it goes.
can I just say that I love Elder Layton. Probably my favorite companion.
The work has been great. We work so hard together, and we are able to talk
to each other, really talk to each other. It's like serving a mission with your best friend, out doing the work of the Lord together. Our planning
both at night and during weekly planning seems so much more meaningful. When Elder Layton and I start thinking and working together it just seems like good ideas come out.
We continue to see success. However on Sunday we ended up having to drop
Linda. She just had so many questions and concerns, and when we bore testimony and asked her to read the Book of Mormon, she wouldn't. She couldn't make that commitment, she wanted to continue to do her own research. It's
so sad to see these people with such strong testimonies of Jesus Christ, refuse our message. They won't accept anything else than what they have. It's sad to watch them struggle with this, it's like they are tied up and you have to just sit there and watch them struggle because you can't force it or untie them. They have to let it happen for themselves. That's been one of the hardest things on my mission is that I can't make people feel the way I feel, I can't pull that feeling out of my backpack and give it to them like some kind of gift.
Things went really well on Saturday with Will Rios' son Noah being baptized. He has deffinately felt the spirit a few different times. He commented to me that he has always turned other missionaries away, and he doesn't know why he let Elder Matheson and I in. Will is doing great though. I stood and talked with him in the hallway and shared some of my feelings with him and I could tell he was touched by the spirit, as I could see his eyes starting to glisten.
There have been some powerful evidences of the spirit being with us out here. People are seeing and recognizing. It's been a testimony builder to me. I love this work. We surge forward everyday. Walk a little faster, door to door, meeting great people. Some swear at us and reject us, others appreciate us and are touched. It just makes that one nice lady that we'll meet or talk to out of maybe a hundred or more angry people all worth it. It just makes me want to work that much harder to find someone, and see them touched, and to know that you've made a difference in someones life, so I go, and go, door to door, and little bit faster. This is the greatest work on the face of the earth, the work that I have been called to do. This work and Church are true, all of it. I leave you my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Love Elder Adams.
Perservere Josh, Onward. Nothing can stop this work from progressing, certainly not Satans grasp of despair that he would seek to grip our hearts with. Forward, and on to Victory. Go.
The early mornings that will be good for you, envigorates the mind and enlivens the body.
Have a good week!
Why didn't dad write again, if he's busy tell him it's ok. I still love him.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
January 20, 2010
Hi I'm online. So I got an eye exam last week. My eyes are different perscriptions so I had to order a box of each. I pick them up next week. The eye exam was 65. 17 per box of contacts. Did you get the check yet for my backpack. Also where did you get the printer from, I tried to take it back to best buy and office max, they don't carry it. I did take back the cartridge. That thing is 25 bucks!!!! Way unnecessary. I'll be on for a short time.
That's good to hear that you got the new job. Dig in hard, "Get on your knees and pray as if everything depends on the Lord, then get on your feet and work as if everything depends on you." That has been my recipe for success that has yielded blessings and strength to me while out here on my mission. With the Lord you can accomplish miracles.
Miracles is just what I have been witnessing here these first two weeks. The Lord truly is guiding us and leading us to find people to teach. However, Satan knows this, he must know what we are trying to accomplish here because opposition has come as well. A japanese lady that we met my first sunday here, we met with again this sunday. She had obviously found some Anti-mormon literature and we had to put out some small fires here. She is still meeting with us. Then on Saturday night we were out tracting and we had just had a great conversation with a man who actually came out of his house and stood on his porch in a t-shirt to talk to us. When we turned to go, a police car pulled up! The officer asked what we were doing. He asked us when we would be done. It was only about 8:13 at night, and we told him we'd be heading for home in about 15 minutes. He said well do you think you could cut it short. I said that we weren't doing anything wrong. He acknowledged this and said that he had received a complaint. I told him we were just sharing a message about Jesus Christ, and we weren't selling anything. He then quickly came back saying, "Alls I'm saying is that if I get another report...." I just stood there it was so wrong what he was doing. My companion answered that we would head back. I didn't want to stop. We started walking back to the car, and then I told Elder Matheson that we were going to turn off onto a side street once we got closer to the car, and continue knocking doors. We turned off and just as I went to walk up a driveway, my companion told me the cop was behind us. It was too late. He peeled up to the side of us and rolled down his window and didn't look happy. He then said, "You guys done yet." I don't know what it was that made me stay silent. My companion answered after a long pause, Yeah we're done we're going home. I felt so defeated. It was so wrong what he was doing to us, because we weren't breaking any laws. I just stood there, but I wanted to go up to him and say, "No we are not done, and we are going to continue knocking doors here." We ended up driving back to Elgin and finding a different street to tract. I wasn't about to call it a night because of a cop in a different city. It's odd, because Elder Matheson has never had the police called on him before he was with me. It's like the police follow me wherever I go and the opposition comes.
It was a good week though. The Lord has really been blessing us. We made a prayer list of things to pray for and people to pray for by name. One of those was referrals from headquarters. There hadn't been a referral here in a while, I guess. Then the other day while we were on a doorstep there came a ringing in my pocket, and we had received a text referral. We'd been praying every night for this to happen. Just in the last week we have began teaching Shelby Hauk, whose wife is a member. We also picked up a former investigator, that now has a renewed commitment to get on the trail to baptism, Khoi Dao. There's also Linda Moore-frey who we found tracting and have taught twice. The other that is highly prospective is Will Rios, also a Part member. His son will be baptized this Saturday. His son has cancer and this trial has softened this fathers heart. Things are very prospective, and the ways in which we have met these people can be described as none other than miracles. The Lord is blessing this area.
As far as less active work. Our plans fell through and we were guided to make a trip to the home of the Ralphs. Where we found the mother in some sort of trouble. She was quiet, then just as we were about to leave we asked if there was anything that we could do. She asked unexpectedly for a blessing. She said she was depressed. We gave her a blessing, and she was in tears as she shared her troubles. It reminded me of distressing times that we once faced in our home. It was an odd place to find myself in, trying to provide comfort for this mother.
Our ward mission leader here is great, he's really liking the things that are happening. I'm going about continuing to love and support these members. They are missionaries and lovers of the missionaries unlike any members I have ever met. I'm still getting to know them all though.
So these two weeks here have flown by. Today was the actual transfer date, and Elder Matheson was transferred as expected. I now have a new companion, Elder Layton. He came out with me!!! We had talked about serving together in the mtc. We even served in areas in the city near each other at the start of our missions. We didn't see each other for a long time. Now president has done something that mission presidents don't do: Put two seasoned missionaries together. Normally he puts them with younger missionaries. He's made both of us co-senior companions. He says that he has high hopes for us. I'm excited. We are going to tear it up. I'm excited about the work and the ideas that he and I can generate together. This is going to be an amazing transfer. So I'm way excited. I've still got a lot to learn about the area and the ward though, so we'll both be a little new at things. Like I said though, blessings are coming and the Lord is helping us.
I love you all and thank you for your prayers. I'll pray for you as you start your new job mom.
LOVE ELDER ADAMS
Why didn't spencer or dad write this week. Also, I don't know if you have been corresponding with my mission president, but he is having me meet with this LDS family services guy. I've already met with him once and I really don't want to do this. It's another thing to worry about. I don't want to have to take time to do it either. I don't want to have to spend the last part of my mission worrying about meeting with this guy. If you could get my mission president off of my back about this. I just want to focus on the mission. I'm sorry I tried to not talk about it, but I know that you've talked to my mission president, and that's frustrating. I don't need this right now!!!!
Haven't heard from Spence about Zach!!????!?!?!?
That's good to hear that you got the new job. Dig in hard, "Get on your knees and pray as if everything depends on the Lord, then get on your feet and work as if everything depends on you." That has been my recipe for success that has yielded blessings and strength to me while out here on my mission. With the Lord you can accomplish miracles.
Miracles is just what I have been witnessing here these first two weeks. The Lord truly is guiding us and leading us to find people to teach. However, Satan knows this, he must know what we are trying to accomplish here because opposition has come as well. A japanese lady that we met my first sunday here, we met with again this sunday. She had obviously found some Anti-mormon literature and we had to put out some small fires here. She is still meeting with us. Then on Saturday night we were out tracting and we had just had a great conversation with a man who actually came out of his house and stood on his porch in a t-shirt to talk to us. When we turned to go, a police car pulled up! The officer asked what we were doing. He asked us when we would be done. It was only about 8:13 at night, and we told him we'd be heading for home in about 15 minutes. He said well do you think you could cut it short. I said that we weren't doing anything wrong. He acknowledged this and said that he had received a complaint. I told him we were just sharing a message about Jesus Christ, and we weren't selling anything. He then quickly came back saying, "Alls I'm saying is that if I get another report...." I just stood there it was so wrong what he was doing. My companion answered that we would head back. I didn't want to stop. We started walking back to the car, and then I told Elder Matheson that we were going to turn off onto a side street once we got closer to the car, and continue knocking doors. We turned off and just as I went to walk up a driveway, my companion told me the cop was behind us. It was too late. He peeled up to the side of us and rolled down his window and didn't look happy. He then said, "You guys done yet." I don't know what it was that made me stay silent. My companion answered after a long pause, Yeah we're done we're going home. I felt so defeated. It was so wrong what he was doing to us, because we weren't breaking any laws. I just stood there, but I wanted to go up to him and say, "No we are not done, and we are going to continue knocking doors here." We ended up driving back to Elgin and finding a different street to tract. I wasn't about to call it a night because of a cop in a different city. It's odd, because Elder Matheson has never had the police called on him before he was with me. It's like the police follow me wherever I go and the opposition comes.
It was a good week though. The Lord has really been blessing us. We made a prayer list of things to pray for and people to pray for by name. One of those was referrals from headquarters. There hadn't been a referral here in a while, I guess. Then the other day while we were on a doorstep there came a ringing in my pocket, and we had received a text referral. We'd been praying every night for this to happen. Just in the last week we have began teaching Shelby Hauk, whose wife is a member. We also picked up a former investigator, that now has a renewed commitment to get on the trail to baptism, Khoi Dao. There's also Linda Moore-frey who we found tracting and have taught twice. The other that is highly prospective is Will Rios, also a Part member. His son will be baptized this Saturday. His son has cancer and this trial has softened this fathers heart. Things are very prospective, and the ways in which we have met these people can be described as none other than miracles. The Lord is blessing this area.
As far as less active work. Our plans fell through and we were guided to make a trip to the home of the Ralphs. Where we found the mother in some sort of trouble. She was quiet, then just as we were about to leave we asked if there was anything that we could do. She asked unexpectedly for a blessing. She said she was depressed. We gave her a blessing, and she was in tears as she shared her troubles. It reminded me of distressing times that we once faced in our home. It was an odd place to find myself in, trying to provide comfort for this mother.
Our ward mission leader here is great, he's really liking the things that are happening. I'm going about continuing to love and support these members. They are missionaries and lovers of the missionaries unlike any members I have ever met. I'm still getting to know them all though.
So these two weeks here have flown by. Today was the actual transfer date, and Elder Matheson was transferred as expected. I now have a new companion, Elder Layton. He came out with me!!! We had talked about serving together in the mtc. We even served in areas in the city near each other at the start of our missions. We didn't see each other for a long time. Now president has done something that mission presidents don't do: Put two seasoned missionaries together. Normally he puts them with younger missionaries. He's made both of us co-senior companions. He says that he has high hopes for us. I'm excited. We are going to tear it up. I'm excited about the work and the ideas that he and I can generate together. This is going to be an amazing transfer. So I'm way excited. I've still got a lot to learn about the area and the ward though, so we'll both be a little new at things. Like I said though, blessings are coming and the Lord is helping us.
I love you all and thank you for your prayers. I'll pray for you as you start your new job mom.
LOVE ELDER ADAMS
Why didn't spencer or dad write this week. Also, I don't know if you have been corresponding with my mission president, but he is having me meet with this LDS family services guy. I've already met with him once and I really don't want to do this. It's another thing to worry about. I don't want to have to take time to do it either. I don't want to have to spend the last part of my mission worrying about meeting with this guy. If you could get my mission president off of my back about this. I just want to focus on the mission. I'm sorry I tried to not talk about it, but I know that you've talked to my mission president, and that's frustrating. I don't need this right now!!!!
Haven't heard from Spence about Zach!!????!?!?!?
Monday, January 18, 2010
January 13, 2010
Yeah this week at least we weren't in the negatives and we got out of the single digits for a little while. We're doing a lot of tracking, we just hit the doors hard. I suit up with all of my layers and go out in it. I'm loving it though and we are already seeing miracles and answered prayers, I wish I could tell you of everything. When I first got here and dropped off my stuff last wednesday the apartment was a disaster there was trash everywhere things lying all over the place, food left in the fridge. Deffinately not a place the spirit could dwell so we had to do some cleaning for part of our weekly planning session on thursday morning. Things are going good though. The members here are amazing, really missionary minded and friendly. There's a lot of asians, chinese, philipino, korean, indians, and especially a lot of hispanics. I've dusted off my spanish yet again and been able to use that. I saw maybe two spanish and two black people during my time in byron, I've WELL exceeded that. Anyway, it's good to hear that things are going good. I love you tons. I need a letter to me here at the address so that I can get a library card. Write me, or have someone write me.
Devin M. Adams
1055 Byron Ln. Apt. 4
Elgin, IL 60123
Love ya, write again next week
So here is the new address
1055 Byron Ln. Apt 4
Elgin, IL 60123
See if Josh knows an Elder Whitsitt ( I think that's how you spell it). One of the members here has a boy out in the same mission as Josh. He comes home in February. Here's some scriptures for Josh also, I really enjoyed them, it seemed like they spoke to me as I was being transfered to a knew area and so was paul, he was being sent to Jerusalem, but the spirit went with him. It bears testimony and works the same no matter where you are or who you talk to. Also My backpack sold for 34 so you can be expecting a check from Bro. Challis soon, just put it in my account.
So I'm loving it here. It was about an hour drive for us here to Elgin. As soon as I walked into the apartment, I saw the wreck of a disaster it was. There was trash everywhere, fast food wrappers on the table, the carpet hadn't been vacuumed in who knows how long. There was food left in the fridge. This place was ridiculously messy. Easily the worst that I have moved into. There wasn't time to clean though, or even really eat much for dinner. I had to drop my stuff, and take inventory of what I might think I need for groceries, because we had an appointment with a Less active to go to. We went to that and then I had to do my grocery shopping. We ended up getting home late and I had just enough time to pull out some sheets and my pajamas and crawl into bed. The next morning we embarked to tackle the cleaning of the apartment, for the spirit doth not dwell in unclean places. Oh we cleaned, I ran the vacuum, and the dust was to fly!!!!
I've found out that there isn't a whole lot going on in the way of people that they are teaching here. Also My companion, Elder Matheson, and his companion whos place I took, I found out weren't exactly getting along too well. Apparently Elder Matheson welcomed this unexpected early transfer. It seems to be the story of my mission, I always go to areas where there is not a whole lot going on and there is some problem with a companionship or with the missionaries serving in the area. It's like I get sent to fire zones every time.
Anyway, I'm not going to complain in the least bit. I love it here, there are actually people here to talk to, lots of them!!! Asians, koreans, chinese, blacks, indians, and especially hispanics. I've had to break out my spanish that I've picked up. It's incredible, there is so much here. I really feel that something big is going to happen here. I can feel it. We've already seen miracles in the Lord answering our prayers. We've been doing a lot of tracting and finding. It's incredible....There is going to be miracles here in Elgin, I can feel it.
At our apartment here, the spanish elders also live here, so I'm around another set of missionaries all the time. We have a gym here also that we all go to together in the morning.
Can I just say that I didn't think that members like those here in Elgin existed. My first week at sacrament was amazing. They are all so missionary minded and talking about how they can better share the gospel. They really want to help us with the work. What's more they were extremely welcoming and wanted to get to know me. I can't wait to get to know all of the members. We've already had success in sharing messages with the members at dinner and then committing them to do missionary work. They are incredible!!!! They even have these stockpiles of food in their basements and they usually take us down to pick out something to take home. One family gave us an entire box of food. It's incredible their generosity. They just say that they want someone to someday take care of their boys when they are on a mission, and they say that that's what my mom is asking for, which I know is true. These members are amazing. These members are to catch fire and the work is going to explode, I can feel it, and the Lord is guiding us. Elder Matheson is also doing great in showing me around the area. Elder Matheson has already said that this week has already been the best numbers he's had this whole transfer. He's got to show me the area, because he'll probably be transfered next week. I've got a lot of members and places to get to know, quick!!!!! It's deffinately a lot different from Byron. I'm in a whole new world. I really feel I've got a great opportunity with these members here and so I'm really trying to have the best relations of my mission.
Elder Matheson and I have been doing a lot of finding, and we have already seen the blessings of success. The Lord is answering our prayers and bringing about miracles already here in the Elgin area. I'm getting settled in and I'm loving the work here.
My companion seems to be a little quiet though when I try to start conversation with him. It's almost like I'm pushing for it in the car. You're absolutely right though, he is a great missionary and has a desire to work hard. I can feel something about to come and about to happen here in this area. I can't tell you of my excitement. Like I said I'm really just trying to show love and appreciation to these members, because they truly are something unique and special, unlike anything I've yet witnessed on my mission, so they deserve the best that I can be. Both in working hard and serving and loving them and all of Elgin!!!
Well times up, I love you and I wish that I had more time to write to you. I love you all so, much. Here we go forward with the work here in Elgin. I'm so excited, I love being a missionary, I have a new fire and desire,, Light it up!!!!
Elder ADams
This is what the mission president sent to me.
Thank you for reporting to me about your last week in Byron. I know that your efforts there were appreciated. Thank you for serving well. That was exciting news to hear about Laura. I\'m sure that Elder Bryner will follow up with her and with the Cromes.
Really dig in and get to know the members in Elgin. Also, take the time to get to know your companion and find out more about him and how the two of you can work with unity. He\'s a good missionary who will eventually be one of our mission leaders. Let him take the lead and show you around the area. He needs an opportunity to show his strengths. At this point in your mission I really need you to be a trainer of our future mission leaders. You can do that best buy letting your companion have some freedom and being willing to let him make a few mistakes.
Keep up your great work as you begin in Elgin.
Devin M. Adams
1055 Byron Ln. Apt. 4
Elgin, IL 60123
Love ya, write again next week
So here is the new address
1055 Byron Ln. Apt 4
Elgin, IL 60123
See if Josh knows an Elder Whitsitt ( I think that's how you spell it). One of the members here has a boy out in the same mission as Josh. He comes home in February. Here's some scriptures for Josh also, I really enjoyed them, it seemed like they spoke to me as I was being transfered to a knew area and so was paul, he was being sent to Jerusalem, but the spirit went with him. It bears testimony and works the same no matter where you are or who you talk to. Also My backpack sold for 34 so you can be expecting a check from Bro. Challis soon, just put it in my account.
So I'm loving it here. It was about an hour drive for us here to Elgin. As soon as I walked into the apartment, I saw the wreck of a disaster it was. There was trash everywhere, fast food wrappers on the table, the carpet hadn't been vacuumed in who knows how long. There was food left in the fridge. This place was ridiculously messy. Easily the worst that I have moved into. There wasn't time to clean though, or even really eat much for dinner. I had to drop my stuff, and take inventory of what I might think I need for groceries, because we had an appointment with a Less active to go to. We went to that and then I had to do my grocery shopping. We ended up getting home late and I had just enough time to pull out some sheets and my pajamas and crawl into bed. The next morning we embarked to tackle the cleaning of the apartment, for the spirit doth not dwell in unclean places. Oh we cleaned, I ran the vacuum, and the dust was to fly!!!!
I've found out that there isn't a whole lot going on in the way of people that they are teaching here. Also My companion, Elder Matheson, and his companion whos place I took, I found out weren't exactly getting along too well. Apparently Elder Matheson welcomed this unexpected early transfer. It seems to be the story of my mission, I always go to areas where there is not a whole lot going on and there is some problem with a companionship or with the missionaries serving in the area. It's like I get sent to fire zones every time.
Anyway, I'm not going to complain in the least bit. I love it here, there are actually people here to talk to, lots of them!!! Asians, koreans, chinese, blacks, indians, and especially hispanics. I've had to break out my spanish that I've picked up. It's incredible, there is so much here. I really feel that something big is going to happen here. I can feel it. We've already seen miracles in the Lord answering our prayers. We've been doing a lot of tracting and finding. It's incredible....There is going to be miracles here in Elgin, I can feel it.
At our apartment here, the spanish elders also live here, so I'm around another set of missionaries all the time. We have a gym here also that we all go to together in the morning.
Can I just say that I didn't think that members like those here in Elgin existed. My first week at sacrament was amazing. They are all so missionary minded and talking about how they can better share the gospel. They really want to help us with the work. What's more they were extremely welcoming and wanted to get to know me. I can't wait to get to know all of the members. We've already had success in sharing messages with the members at dinner and then committing them to do missionary work. They are incredible!!!! They even have these stockpiles of food in their basements and they usually take us down to pick out something to take home. One family gave us an entire box of food. It's incredible their generosity. They just say that they want someone to someday take care of their boys when they are on a mission, and they say that that's what my mom is asking for, which I know is true. These members are amazing. These members are to catch fire and the work is going to explode, I can feel it, and the Lord is guiding us. Elder Matheson is also doing great in showing me around the area. Elder Matheson has already said that this week has already been the best numbers he's had this whole transfer. He's got to show me the area, because he'll probably be transfered next week. I've got a lot of members and places to get to know, quick!!!!! It's deffinately a lot different from Byron. I'm in a whole new world. I really feel I've got a great opportunity with these members here and so I'm really trying to have the best relations of my mission.
Elder Matheson and I have been doing a lot of finding, and we have already seen the blessings of success. The Lord is answering our prayers and bringing about miracles already here in the Elgin area. I'm getting settled in and I'm loving the work here.
My companion seems to be a little quiet though when I try to start conversation with him. It's almost like I'm pushing for it in the car. You're absolutely right though, he is a great missionary and has a desire to work hard. I can feel something about to come and about to happen here in this area. I can't tell you of my excitement. Like I said I'm really just trying to show love and appreciation to these members, because they truly are something unique and special, unlike anything I've yet witnessed on my mission, so they deserve the best that I can be. Both in working hard and serving and loving them and all of Elgin!!!
Well times up, I love you and I wish that I had more time to write to you. I love you all so, much. Here we go forward with the work here in Elgin. I'm so excited, I love being a missionary, I have a new fire and desire,, Light it up!!!!
Elder ADams
This is what the mission president sent to me.
Thank you for reporting to me about your last week in Byron. I know that your efforts there were appreciated. Thank you for serving well. That was exciting news to hear about Laura. I\'m sure that Elder Bryner will follow up with her and with the Cromes.
Really dig in and get to know the members in Elgin. Also, take the time to get to know your companion and find out more about him and how the two of you can work with unity. He\'s a good missionary who will eventually be one of our mission leaders. Let him take the lead and show you around the area. He needs an opportunity to show his strengths. At this point in your mission I really need you to be a trainer of our future mission leaders. You can do that best buy letting your companion have some freedom and being willing to let him make a few mistakes.
Keep up your great work as you begin in Elgin.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
January 6, 2010
Read Galatians 5:16-17, it talks about how we can always walk in the spirit. That's really our quest in this life, because if we can walk in the spirit we will be happy, and if we have the spirit we will make right choices and we will be able to overcome the temptations that satan places in our path. We have to always seek to have the spirit to be with us. Yeah it's been super cold here, small numbers for temperatures, if we were playing golf we'd be pros as far as numbers go. We're not though. I have to bundle up a ton, and use the pile of handwarmers I have. I'm so excited that you are a high priest now!!! That's awesome!!! I've heard that you've been working a lot lately, I admire that you do that. Did you get an extra long weekend after Christmas and new years since it landed on a friday? Anyway, I'm being moved out of Byron!! My time here has gone by so fast. It was hard to say goodbye to the Cromes, I wrote about it in my main email to mom. I only got to see Chuck yesterday, but he called me son as he wished me luck on my way. He really is thankful to me and admires me, he said that I've been there from the beginning with him and Marissa. It really is a neat experience to play a big part in someone elses life. I told him I would deffinately be out here to see him and his wife go through the temple. Wow I love them, I'll miss and worry about them. I love you dad thank you so much for your support to me. You're the greatest, don't let anyone tell you any different.
Love, Your son
Elder Adams
Hey mom I'm online for a little bit. I still have to finish packing today. We had an unexpected call come yesterday. There's a missionary going home 2 weeks early from his mission so that he can be home in time to start school. This causes a lot of jumbling in the mission. The transfer doesn't end for another two weeks, but president had to do some moving. He called us yesterday and I'm being moved. I had expected to be moved at the end of this transfer, so I guess I'm just doing it two weeks early. I had to pack most of yesterday. I'm going to Elgin (Wherever that is????) The transfer van is coming to pick me up at 4:45 today. Elder Bryner is going to get this kid that is not actually even a missionary. He's a 17 or 18 year old from the Chicago 5th ward, that is going to fill in for 2 weeks until the end of the transfer and then President will reevaluate things again. It's shaken things up deffinately. I was ok with it as I started to pack yesterday, but then I had to go and say goodbye to the Cromes. Marissa wasn't there, she was out shopping, so it was just Chuck. It was hard though, that's when it hit me. Especiall when he told me that if it was just him and Marissa that I help come to this gospel on my mission then I've been successful. It was really hard also offering the last prayer with him, which he asked me to offer, I got really choked up and I had to fight it back. Anyway I still have a little packing to do today, but most of it is done. Hurry and jump online.
This is part of what my mission president wrote to me this week.
I have confidence that you can really make things happen in your life. You have already shown that you are a hard-working, diligent missionary. I want to send you home In May a well-rounded person who can have success in his interpersonal relationships. There's no way we can get by in life without having good relationships with other people. We do this by serving them in seeking what is best for them and losing ourselves as we do it.
Here is the Fomby's address. Keep in touch with them. They are my favorite family from my mission. Forward some of the stuff that I write home to you about.
sefomby@gmail.com (susan fomby)
mrfomby@gmail.com (matt fomby)
8661 Hilltop Dr.
Byron IL, 61010
815-713-3295 (home)
904-556-2396 (cell)
Also you should have gotten an email from Bro. Challis who is selling my backpack for me. The bidding ends on Thursday, so then when he gets the money from whoever buys it he will send you a check in your name and then you can deposit it in my account. Thank you so much mom, you're amazing. I also gave him your phone number, he doesn't have to pay for long distance.
Ok so did you send out some of my christmas cards to people, and keep one for us, because I didn't save one. I wrote back to the Sandbergs, but you'll have to tell them that I'm not in Byron anymore and not to write to that address.
Oh and yesterday as I was packing things up, I decided to send home my short sleeve shirts and the holiday pillowcase that I got this year. It has a message and a bell attached to it so save these also. I sent the package yesterday so let me know when you get it.
So how are things going. I've sent a lot more emails to you just barely. This week has been cold, and we've been out in it a lot.
It just has a lot to do with the fact that I'm not supposed to push my companions over the edge. I have to love them and incorporate their ideas also. Which will be one nice thing about this new area hopefully, that the 8:00-9:00 hour when we can't knock doors will hopefully be available. We could only stop by members during that time here in Byron, so it felt like waste of time hour, slacker missionary.
No worries, I'm going to send you my email. It sounds like you have had a lot going on. No I have not received my release date yet. I think I should still get to talk to president about it.
Saturday night it was -7 air temp. This past week has been really cold, we haven't seen much of double digits lately. With windchill factor, probably definately not. We have been out in it a lot, at least since Saturday. I've had to bundle up like something ridiculous, but you feel so good having conquered and shared the message with people even when they reject you. You just keep going and you endure the cold.
On New Years Eve we went and had dinner at the Fomby's and then we left to go out and do some tracting. We actually taught one lady on her porch, she came and stood outside and then we prayed with her. Then a few doors down a lady let us in and listened to us. She asked for out names, and said that we had been helpful. It was such a blessing, we prayed with her too. Two lessons in a half and hour!!! However as soon as we went outside to head back to the car since it was after 8:00, the police were out on the streets and stopped us. Apparently the Elderly couple that we had knocked on a few doors down had gotten spooked and called the police. Elder Bryner wasn't happy with this when I looked at the phone that had been in my jacket while we were eating dinner and found a text. I hadn't checked anything when I put my jacket on to go back out tracting, but apparently President had issued that he wanted everyone in at 7:00. Elder Bryner wasn't happy, but the way I see it the Lord isn't going to let anything go wrong with the work, this is his. I saw it as a blessing that we were able to touch two people that night. You can't please everyone. We ended up going back to the Fomby's and we played a mad lib game. I got nice and warm by the fire. So that was our new Years eve.
Anyway, my time here in Byron has gone by so fast, almost six months gone in the blink of an eye. It seems like I just got here yesterday. I truly enjoyed the assignment. Elder Bryner has been a great companion, Hear my new companion is Elder Matheson. I always hate packing up, I wonder how Josh is enjoying his first experience of picking up and moving. He at least had a long stay in his first area, I had six weeks.
Jared Ashley has been taught all but maybe one commandment and is ready for baptism!!! He'll be meeting with President Merrill this Sunday to see how things are going. So I'll miss seeing that baptism happen. He told me that he was going to miss my teaching.
We have had a lot of people that we meet, then turn around and not want to meet with us. They leave messages on our phones. It's like they get hit with anti-mormon literature when they meet us. Satan is really opposing the work here in Byron. However we did have a miracle at Church this Sunday. I was fasting for among other things the work and the finding efforts here in Byron. Then at Church this lady with her 3 young children all under the age of 3 showed up. Her name is Laura Zimmerman, she said that she had talked to a friend of hers that told her about the Church. She then went online and looked up our church and found that we believed similarly to what she did, so she decided to find out where the nearest meeting house is and attend. She actually is married and has three older children as well. It was incredible. I sat by her and helped to entertain one of the little boys. After the block of meetings we were able to set up an appointment to meet with her and her husband this Friday, and she is planning on attending Church again this Sunday!!!
Since I found out I was being transferred yesterday, as I made some calls to members of the Branch, I made sure to let them know how much I appreciated them, things I had learned or admired about them, things I would remember or miss about them. It makes you feel good when you show love to them. The members really do appreciate me as well. I had no idea that President Merrill and I had as good a relationship as I found out yesterday. He really wanted us to stop by for dinner or to at least say goodbye, but we were unable to. I'm gong to miss these members. Especially the Fomby's. I think they are my favorite family of my mission. I have a lot of great memories with them. It was hard to say goodbye to brother Fomby over the phone. I mean spent Thanksgiving, Christmas morning, and New year's Eve at their home.
I'm looking forward to my new area, companion, and the work there. Forward we go!!!
my one request to president doll was that he ensure that whatever missionaries serve here in this area watch over the Cromes. I asked him to keep a close watch over them, and help them to stay strong, and to make sure that the missionaries that serve here know this. I love the Cromes very dearly. I love you all so much, and thank Josh for the tie. You are all in my prayers, daily.
Love, Elder Adams
I forgot to tell you in my email, that on New Year's Eve, the sister missionaries serving in Dekalb decided to call us at midnight and wake us up. They left some message on the phone. It was insane, but I guess that you could say that we got to see 2010 come in.
You'll have to email josh some of my pictures that I sent to you of Christmas and what not. That's Josh, it's always good to see him.
Well mom I probably better get going. I'll enjoy the last moments here in Byron, and then I'll be off to my new assignment. The work will go forward, I'm ready for the next challenge and to get the work going. Pleasure hearing from you as always. I love you and keep me in your prayers as I travel.
Love Elder Adams
P.S.- How do they do transfers for Josh, travel etc. The transfer van is just coming to pick me and my things up and take me to my new area.
Love, Your son
Elder Adams
Hey mom I'm online for a little bit. I still have to finish packing today. We had an unexpected call come yesterday. There's a missionary going home 2 weeks early from his mission so that he can be home in time to start school. This causes a lot of jumbling in the mission. The transfer doesn't end for another two weeks, but president had to do some moving. He called us yesterday and I'm being moved. I had expected to be moved at the end of this transfer, so I guess I'm just doing it two weeks early. I had to pack most of yesterday. I'm going to Elgin (Wherever that is????) The transfer van is coming to pick me up at 4:45 today. Elder Bryner is going to get this kid that is not actually even a missionary. He's a 17 or 18 year old from the Chicago 5th ward, that is going to fill in for 2 weeks until the end of the transfer and then President will reevaluate things again. It's shaken things up deffinately. I was ok with it as I started to pack yesterday, but then I had to go and say goodbye to the Cromes. Marissa wasn't there, she was out shopping, so it was just Chuck. It was hard though, that's when it hit me. Especiall when he told me that if it was just him and Marissa that I help come to this gospel on my mission then I've been successful. It was really hard also offering the last prayer with him, which he asked me to offer, I got really choked up and I had to fight it back. Anyway I still have a little packing to do today, but most of it is done. Hurry and jump online.
This is part of what my mission president wrote to me this week.
I have confidence that you can really make things happen in your life. You have already shown that you are a hard-working, diligent missionary. I want to send you home In May a well-rounded person who can have success in his interpersonal relationships. There's no way we can get by in life without having good relationships with other people. We do this by serving them in seeking what is best for them and losing ourselves as we do it.
Here is the Fomby's address. Keep in touch with them. They are my favorite family from my mission. Forward some of the stuff that I write home to you about.
sefomby@gmail.com (susan fomby)
mrfomby@gmail.com (matt fomby)
8661 Hilltop Dr.
Byron IL, 61010
815-713-3295 (home)
904-556-2396 (cell)
Also you should have gotten an email from Bro. Challis who is selling my backpack for me. The bidding ends on Thursday, so then when he gets the money from whoever buys it he will send you a check in your name and then you can deposit it in my account. Thank you so much mom, you're amazing. I also gave him your phone number, he doesn't have to pay for long distance.
Ok so did you send out some of my christmas cards to people, and keep one for us, because I didn't save one. I wrote back to the Sandbergs, but you'll have to tell them that I'm not in Byron anymore and not to write to that address.
Oh and yesterday as I was packing things up, I decided to send home my short sleeve shirts and the holiday pillowcase that I got this year. It has a message and a bell attached to it so save these also. I sent the package yesterday so let me know when you get it.
So how are things going. I've sent a lot more emails to you just barely. This week has been cold, and we've been out in it a lot.
It just has a lot to do with the fact that I'm not supposed to push my companions over the edge. I have to love them and incorporate their ideas also. Which will be one nice thing about this new area hopefully, that the 8:00-9:00 hour when we can't knock doors will hopefully be available. We could only stop by members during that time here in Byron, so it felt like waste of time hour, slacker missionary.
No worries, I'm going to send you my email. It sounds like you have had a lot going on. No I have not received my release date yet. I think I should still get to talk to president about it.
Saturday night it was -7 air temp. This past week has been really cold, we haven't seen much of double digits lately. With windchill factor, probably definately not. We have been out in it a lot, at least since Saturday. I've had to bundle up like something ridiculous, but you feel so good having conquered and shared the message with people even when they reject you. You just keep going and you endure the cold.
On New Years Eve we went and had dinner at the Fomby's and then we left to go out and do some tracting. We actually taught one lady on her porch, she came and stood outside and then we prayed with her. Then a few doors down a lady let us in and listened to us. She asked for out names, and said that we had been helpful. It was such a blessing, we prayed with her too. Two lessons in a half and hour!!! However as soon as we went outside to head back to the car since it was after 8:00, the police were out on the streets and stopped us. Apparently the Elderly couple that we had knocked on a few doors down had gotten spooked and called the police. Elder Bryner wasn't happy with this when I looked at the phone that had been in my jacket while we were eating dinner and found a text. I hadn't checked anything when I put my jacket on to go back out tracting, but apparently President had issued that he wanted everyone in at 7:00. Elder Bryner wasn't happy, but the way I see it the Lord isn't going to let anything go wrong with the work, this is his. I saw it as a blessing that we were able to touch two people that night. You can't please everyone. We ended up going back to the Fomby's and we played a mad lib game. I got nice and warm by the fire. So that was our new Years eve.
Anyway, my time here in Byron has gone by so fast, almost six months gone in the blink of an eye. It seems like I just got here yesterday. I truly enjoyed the assignment. Elder Bryner has been a great companion, Hear my new companion is Elder Matheson. I always hate packing up, I wonder how Josh is enjoying his first experience of picking up and moving. He at least had a long stay in his first area, I had six weeks.
Jared Ashley has been taught all but maybe one commandment and is ready for baptism!!! He'll be meeting with President Merrill this Sunday to see how things are going. So I'll miss seeing that baptism happen. He told me that he was going to miss my teaching.
We have had a lot of people that we meet, then turn around and not want to meet with us. They leave messages on our phones. It's like they get hit with anti-mormon literature when they meet us. Satan is really opposing the work here in Byron. However we did have a miracle at Church this Sunday. I was fasting for among other things the work and the finding efforts here in Byron. Then at Church this lady with her 3 young children all under the age of 3 showed up. Her name is Laura Zimmerman, she said that she had talked to a friend of hers that told her about the Church. She then went online and looked up our church and found that we believed similarly to what she did, so she decided to find out where the nearest meeting house is and attend. She actually is married and has three older children as well. It was incredible. I sat by her and helped to entertain one of the little boys. After the block of meetings we were able to set up an appointment to meet with her and her husband this Friday, and she is planning on attending Church again this Sunday!!!
Since I found out I was being transferred yesterday, as I made some calls to members of the Branch, I made sure to let them know how much I appreciated them, things I had learned or admired about them, things I would remember or miss about them. It makes you feel good when you show love to them. The members really do appreciate me as well. I had no idea that President Merrill and I had as good a relationship as I found out yesterday. He really wanted us to stop by for dinner or to at least say goodbye, but we were unable to. I'm gong to miss these members. Especially the Fomby's. I think they are my favorite family of my mission. I have a lot of great memories with them. It was hard to say goodbye to brother Fomby over the phone. I mean spent Thanksgiving, Christmas morning, and New year's Eve at their home.
I'm looking forward to my new area, companion, and the work there. Forward we go!!!
my one request to president doll was that he ensure that whatever missionaries serve here in this area watch over the Cromes. I asked him to keep a close watch over them, and help them to stay strong, and to make sure that the missionaries that serve here know this. I love the Cromes very dearly. I love you all so much, and thank Josh for the tie. You are all in my prayers, daily.
Love, Elder Adams
I forgot to tell you in my email, that on New Year's Eve, the sister missionaries serving in Dekalb decided to call us at midnight and wake us up. They left some message on the phone. It was insane, but I guess that you could say that we got to see 2010 come in.
You'll have to email josh some of my pictures that I sent to you of Christmas and what not. That's Josh, it's always good to see him.
Well mom I probably better get going. I'll enjoy the last moments here in Byron, and then I'll be off to my new assignment. The work will go forward, I'm ready for the next challenge and to get the work going. Pleasure hearing from you as always. I love you and keep me in your prayers as I travel.
Love Elder Adams
P.S.- How do they do transfers for Josh, travel etc. The transfer van is just coming to pick me and my things up and take me to my new area.
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