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.