I added some and resent this, I didn't know if it worked before.
This week truly was a week of miracles and success. The Lord blessed us this week President. Everything seemed to pay off and to come together and to fall into line. Elder Layton and I taught so well together and we continue to teach better and better together, and our finding and our approaches keep getting better. We're helping our investigators make and keep commitments. We're extending commitments with boldness. Everything just feels so good, I just can't say enough good about Elder Layton and about the work and about how things are going with finding, teaching, and the progress of our investigators. This week we taught Will Rios about faith, and faith to act. We then taught about fasting and about the Word of Wisdom. We extended the commitment to keep the Word of Wisdom and to fast with us and his family on a specific date for his son who has cancer and for an answer if the The Book of Mormon is true. He accepted!!!! It was so incredible. I was on a high that night, I couldn't believe he accepted. I just bore testimony to him and promised blessings, I could feel it in the lesson, I could just feel something, and then he accepted. It was incredible. In order for him to keep the Word of Wisdom he will have to give up tea and alcohol, but he was willing to do it. I guess word travels fast as well, because his wife told a few word members who then asked us about it on Sunday. Things are going great. Speaking of ward members, Elder Layton and I think they really trust us and want to help us. One member asked us for 3 copies of the Book of Mormon and 3 sets of pamphlets of the first 3 lessons. It's just been an all around incredible week. Probably a highlight week of my entire mission. This week hopefully we can extend some baptismal commitments and help people receive some spiritual confirmations. Pray for Will Rios to be able to keep this commitment. I know if he does he will get his answer and his family will be blessed. We are going to be fasting next weekend with him and his family, It's going to be the most focused fast ever. Will Rios is the only one in his family that is not a member. His wife and kids are. His eight year old son Noah has cancer and he has to go through a lot of treatments. There's a mass that pushes against his spine. After I had committed him to the Word of Wisdom on Friday night, we heard later that his wife was really surprised. She said that when she talked to him, that he had said that he had better jump on board on this one with faith if the Lord is to heal his son. When I extended the commitment, he said "Is this some of the changes that I will have to make in my life if this is going to be a part of my life?" I answered to him yes and further bore testimony of the principle and how he and his family would be blessed and then I asked him if he would exercise his faith and keep the Word of Wisdom. That's when he accepted, it was incredible.
Tomorrow we have a special meeting with Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. It’s a combined meeting with the Chicago South Mission. It’s going to be a big deal. I’m excited to hear from an Apostle. I hear that he’s a firecracker speaker. I wonder what he’s going to say to us. So that’s tomorrow from 4-6. Also Mark Whitsitt returned home from his mission on Thursday. He was in the same mission as Josh. He said that he’d heard of my brother but never met him. He said that a lot of people want to work with him. So that was good to hear. He told us a little about his mission as well. Some things about being released that I didn’t want to hear. He came to an appointment with us though, so that was neat.
Today is my companion, Elder Layton’s, Birthday. He’s 21, so we’re probably going to do something fun today.
Can I just say that the Spirit of God like a fire is Burning, here in Elgin. Things are moving forward. We teach with power and Authority, and go door to door inviting people to listen to our message and receive the blessings. You just feel so good everyday, it’s an incredible good happy feeling. You know nothing like it anywhere else or from anything else. It’s amazing I love it. I just feel so good and fulfilled. Ahhh, it’s pure envigoration to my soul. I’m just so happy, I love it. It can only mean that the Spirit of God is bearing witness of the truthfulness of this work (Moroni 7:13-17). I love it what more can I say. Being a missionary, the choice that I made to serve, is easily the greatest decision I have ever made in my live. I feel anything else in my life will pale in comparison to this. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Love Elder Adams
Great job on your tests mom. Keep up the good work!!!!! Has dad not only broke his hip, but his fingers are broken as well, so that it has become difficult to type. Just kidding. You've got to write me if you want me to be motivated to write you family.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
February 17, 2010
It's good to hear that you got the pictures, it's good stuff, don't knock it till you try it. Josh, Thanks for the words of wisdom as to release dates. Just enjoy all of your time and work hard. The days go by so ridiculously fast. Weeks fly by like nothing, it's robbery of my time as a missionary I tell you. Elder Whitsitt from Josh's mission comes home tomorrow as well, so I guess you didn't get to meet him. Congrats on senior companion.
I did get the Valentines card. Thank you so much for that. Congrats on the tests, keep it going and study hard. As for teaching this week I know that you will do good. I taught our gospel principles class this week, it was on the Holy Ghost. Also this week at district meeting I was asked to give a 10 minute talk on a Christlike attribute of my choice. I chose charity. It was a great study and I wrote a talk and learned things that I will keep forever. I didn't think my talk would go the way it did. I didn't think I would get emotional about it. I thought I would get up and share all these exciting things that I had learned. The emotions were unexpected. It was a great talk, one that I will probably save.
The work here has gone from not much happening at the beginning to really starting to take off this week. We have met some incredible people, and the Lord has blessed and rewarded us for our work in knocking all of the doors. I had told my companion, hang in there a little longer and the Lord will bless us. Sure enough that time has come, they are flowing in. It's incredible. My companion says that he hasn't had that busy feeling in a long time.
Friday night we were out tracting. We had been knocking on some apartments. We met a lot of different people lets say. Including a few ladies who were having a rather inappropriate party. We continued on. It was almost 9 o'clock, maybe five minutes till, and we still had to drive home. Then we had just finished knocking an apartment building. We hadn't had a whole lot of success this night. I looked across the street and I saw two houses with lights on, and I thought we should go and knock just those two on the other side of the street. I told my companion what I thought we should do and we went over. We knocked on the first and the man wasn't too interested. Then the last door of the night. This man answers and lets us in almost immediately. He's middle aged, named Joe Evans. He invites us to sit down, he's been watching a fight on T.V. He then begins to tell us how he is trying to be a better father, but how Satan keeps working to make him feel worthless and then he'll slip back into his old ways. He said that he has a faith in Christ, but he's just trying to be better. Then the reason we were sent there came out. He said that he had gotten into an argument with his fiance who is living with, and she and the kids had left and gone to dinner, and he was left at home. He was waiting for us essentially. He said I know you guys were sent here for a reason, things just don't happen. He recognized there was something. He said when his fiance got back, he and the kids were going to pray together. He then said that he wanted to hear more of what we had to say, and invited us to come back for dinner, and we set an appointment. We prayed with him after. The last door of the night!!! Elder Layton and I walked away from that feeling like God had just moved us right where he wanted us, and that he was so close, like he had been watching every move of that night. That man was waiting for us. It's times like these you know that there is a Father in Heaven. Now our appointment with him was set for yesterday, and he had just gotten back from a family road trip so we had to reschedule for this Saturday. Pray for this to go well. He wants to marry this girl and to be a good father to these kids. He says that he and his fiance both believe strongly in the law of chastity and so though they live together he believes in saving themselves for each other. How incredible is that, it's like they've been prepared!!!!
On another note. We met with a less active family the Ralph's. Mom I can't tell you how similar the trials this family is facing is similar to what we went through. This lady is also suffering from some depression. The trials and the whole situation of this family is similar. I feel like this family is one of the purposes that I am here in this area at this time. Yet another evidence of God directing this work, all the way from the beginning in receiving my call here to Chicago.
There is also another girl we are teaching who is 20 years old, Rebecca Gianpiccolo. She left her home in North Carolina and was living with other family and friends for a time, then she has now come here to live with an aunt and uncle that are members of our ward. (Sound Familiar). She has been agnostic, but we are teaching her. She has started reading the Book of Mormon and trying to find work and what not. This is another example of why I feel that I am supposed to be here. It seems that we are meeting certain people for us to meet. The feelings she's had, the situation she is in, and has gone through. It sounds so similar to my life story and some of the trials that I went through. I feel like I can relate to these people, and help them see how I was able to overcome. I can help them find a faith in Christ, and happiness, the way I did. It's incredible.
We have had so many miracles, been blessed to find people, been led and guided by the hand of the Lord. We pause in the day when we receive answers to prayers or blessings or see miracles, and we pray and return thanks to God. Elder Layton and I have grown closer together yet again this week. We really can talk to each other about how we feel about the work, and how we teach together and how we share in the planning of lessons and our day. We're doing great work. I feel like a team together. The Lord has blessed us with some more investigators and a number of potentials. Elder Layton says that he loves this feeling of busy and that he hasn't felt it in a long time. We have had some faith building miracles occur as well. It's also incredible how much the Lord is blessing us in our finding efforts. I knew it would come, I told Elder Layton to hang in there and it would come. The work is just absolutely taking off!!! The Bishop has really began to show trust in us. This Sunday we both felt like the ward really likes us and reached out to us. You could feel something from the ward members. Its great when you heard ward members pray for you in meetings and say "Thank you for these great Elders." The work is going to happen here!!! I am so excited, I knew I felt something here when I came to Elgin, I knew it. I could probably fill pages with the stories and what has happened here. I know this work is true, and how lucky I am to be a part of it. It's the greatest feeling in the world!!!
I love you all,
Elder ADAMS
Everybody read Mormon 9- It's about how there is a God of Miracles.
Yes we have been getting snow.
I have a new email address. They have redone things, and are now linked with google and gmail. Here is my new email address.
devin.adams@myldsmail.net
I did get the Valentines card. Thank you so much for that. Congrats on the tests, keep it going and study hard. As for teaching this week I know that you will do good. I taught our gospel principles class this week, it was on the Holy Ghost. Also this week at district meeting I was asked to give a 10 minute talk on a Christlike attribute of my choice. I chose charity. It was a great study and I wrote a talk and learned things that I will keep forever. I didn't think my talk would go the way it did. I didn't think I would get emotional about it. I thought I would get up and share all these exciting things that I had learned. The emotions were unexpected. It was a great talk, one that I will probably save.
The work here has gone from not much happening at the beginning to really starting to take off this week. We have met some incredible people, and the Lord has blessed and rewarded us for our work in knocking all of the doors. I had told my companion, hang in there a little longer and the Lord will bless us. Sure enough that time has come, they are flowing in. It's incredible. My companion says that he hasn't had that busy feeling in a long time.
Friday night we were out tracting. We had been knocking on some apartments. We met a lot of different people lets say. Including a few ladies who were having a rather inappropriate party. We continued on. It was almost 9 o'clock, maybe five minutes till, and we still had to drive home. Then we had just finished knocking an apartment building. We hadn't had a whole lot of success this night. I looked across the street and I saw two houses with lights on, and I thought we should go and knock just those two on the other side of the street. I told my companion what I thought we should do and we went over. We knocked on the first and the man wasn't too interested. Then the last door of the night. This man answers and lets us in almost immediately. He's middle aged, named Joe Evans. He invites us to sit down, he's been watching a fight on T.V. He then begins to tell us how he is trying to be a better father, but how Satan keeps working to make him feel worthless and then he'll slip back into his old ways. He said that he has a faith in Christ, but he's just trying to be better. Then the reason we were sent there came out. He said that he had gotten into an argument with his fiance who is living with, and she and the kids had left and gone to dinner, and he was left at home. He was waiting for us essentially. He said I know you guys were sent here for a reason, things just don't happen. He recognized there was something. He said when his fiance got back, he and the kids were going to pray together. He then said that he wanted to hear more of what we had to say, and invited us to come back for dinner, and we set an appointment. We prayed with him after. The last door of the night!!! Elder Layton and I walked away from that feeling like God had just moved us right where he wanted us, and that he was so close, like he had been watching every move of that night. That man was waiting for us. It's times like these you know that there is a Father in Heaven. Now our appointment with him was set for yesterday, and he had just gotten back from a family road trip so we had to reschedule for this Saturday. Pray for this to go well. He wants to marry this girl and to be a good father to these kids. He says that he and his fiance both believe strongly in the law of chastity and so though they live together he believes in saving themselves for each other. How incredible is that, it's like they've been prepared!!!!
On another note. We met with a less active family the Ralph's. Mom I can't tell you how similar the trials this family is facing is similar to what we went through. This lady is also suffering from some depression. The trials and the whole situation of this family is similar. I feel like this family is one of the purposes that I am here in this area at this time. Yet another evidence of God directing this work, all the way from the beginning in receiving my call here to Chicago.
There is also another girl we are teaching who is 20 years old, Rebecca Gianpiccolo. She left her home in North Carolina and was living with other family and friends for a time, then she has now come here to live with an aunt and uncle that are members of our ward. (Sound Familiar). She has been agnostic, but we are teaching her. She has started reading the Book of Mormon and trying to find work and what not. This is another example of why I feel that I am supposed to be here. It seems that we are meeting certain people for us to meet. The feelings she's had, the situation she is in, and has gone through. It sounds so similar to my life story and some of the trials that I went through. I feel like I can relate to these people, and help them see how I was able to overcome. I can help them find a faith in Christ, and happiness, the way I did. It's incredible.
We have had so many miracles, been blessed to find people, been led and guided by the hand of the Lord. We pause in the day when we receive answers to prayers or blessings or see miracles, and we pray and return thanks to God. Elder Layton and I have grown closer together yet again this week. We really can talk to each other about how we feel about the work, and how we teach together and how we share in the planning of lessons and our day. We're doing great work. I feel like a team together. The Lord has blessed us with some more investigators and a number of potentials. Elder Layton says that he loves this feeling of busy and that he hasn't felt it in a long time. We have had some faith building miracles occur as well. It's also incredible how much the Lord is blessing us in our finding efforts. I knew it would come, I told Elder Layton to hang in there and it would come. The work is just absolutely taking off!!! The Bishop has really began to show trust in us. This Sunday we both felt like the ward really likes us and reached out to us. You could feel something from the ward members. Its great when you heard ward members pray for you in meetings and say "Thank you for these great Elders." The work is going to happen here!!! I am so excited, I knew I felt something here when I came to Elgin, I knew it. I could probably fill pages with the stories and what has happened here. I know this work is true, and how lucky I am to be a part of it. It's the greatest feeling in the world!!!
I love you all,
Elder ADAMS
Everybody read Mormon 9- It's about how there is a God of Miracles.
Yes we have been getting snow.
I have a new email address. They have redone things, and are now linked with google and gmail. Here is my new email address.
devin.adams@myldsmail.net
February 10, 2010
We've gotten about 6-8 inches of snow. We did a lot of shovel tracting yesterday, about 4 hours worth of it. It's been intense. We're trying to find people to teach. The super bowl sunday was an interesting experience trying to talk to people, satan used that day against us.
We just keep pushing each and everyday, even when it's cold and the people get mad. We had the police called on us on Monday night, and the cop told us to leave. Two cop cars actually came out. It's so wrong how they do this.
I'm glad to hear things are well. It's incredible to think of the blessings this gospel has brought to our family, and how each of our lives has been changed by the hand of the Lord this past couple of years. Especially our family. Keep strong, and read your scriptures daily.
I love you tons,
Elder Adams
I wrote a bunch to dad and Spencer. I just didn't want to write family last week. I didn't have the desire to do it. We went to the temple last week. I needed that, it had been a long time. Tues. was interviews with President. It was really hard talking to him about when I go home. I told him that I had found some stuff in an esign in jan. about looking to the future and trusting that the lord has more to offer you. It was by holland. I told him that with the north and south chicago missions combining on july 1 if there is any need for missionaries to stay..... he interjected and said, "you want to be at the top of that list, I'll keep that in mind." I told him I'd be happy to stay longer, if there is a way. It was hard talking to him about this, it gets harder thinking about how fast time is going by. I don't want to have to do the transition, or the change. It's going by too fast, my mission, my mission. I love serving my God, and my Savior. This is what I promised to him a little over 2 years ago, and he has kept so many promises to me. I just want to keep doing it. Love you all,
Elder Adams
I'm going to try and send pictures of Balute. I know I didn't write much. I'll try and have more of a desire to write family.
so we ate 2 of these eggs, and we tried dried squid, and clams. We also had dinner here on monday and had some mussels. It's quite the philipino cultural experience. I also found out from Elder Bryner who is still in Byron, that Jared, the excommunicated guy that we taught, is now eligible to be baptised and the branch president has let them set a date. Also a referral that we got when I was last there, this lady just came to church. I sat with her and entertained one of her little boys. She is now going to have a baptismal date. I didn't get to teach her, but we had taught Jared everything. The fruit is harvested after I left, that's tough, we're struggling to find the people to teach here. Oh well, I did my part in the vineyard to find and teach. I'm here now and I'll find all of my brothers and sisters who are searching, I'll find them all. I just have to do the work I've been called to do. The Lord will bless us here.
Love Elder Adams,
Enjoy the pics, I loved the balute, the philipinos couldn't believe that I liked it and was so willing to try these different things. I hope you don't lose your lunch when you look at them. Sister Doll couldn't take the pictures. Love ya tons.
We just keep pushing each and everyday, even when it's cold and the people get mad. We had the police called on us on Monday night, and the cop told us to leave. Two cop cars actually came out. It's so wrong how they do this.
I'm glad to hear things are well. It's incredible to think of the blessings this gospel has brought to our family, and how each of our lives has been changed by the hand of the Lord this past couple of years. Especially our family. Keep strong, and read your scriptures daily.
I love you tons,
Elder Adams
I wrote a bunch to dad and Spencer. I just didn't want to write family last week. I didn't have the desire to do it. We went to the temple last week. I needed that, it had been a long time. Tues. was interviews with President. It was really hard talking to him about when I go home. I told him that I had found some stuff in an esign in jan. about looking to the future and trusting that the lord has more to offer you. It was by holland. I told him that with the north and south chicago missions combining on july 1 if there is any need for missionaries to stay..... he interjected and said, "you want to be at the top of that list, I'll keep that in mind." I told him I'd be happy to stay longer, if there is a way. It was hard talking to him about this, it gets harder thinking about how fast time is going by. I don't want to have to do the transition, or the change. It's going by too fast, my mission, my mission. I love serving my God, and my Savior. This is what I promised to him a little over 2 years ago, and he has kept so many promises to me. I just want to keep doing it. Love you all,
Elder Adams
I'm going to try and send pictures of Balute. I know I didn't write much. I'll try and have more of a desire to write family.
so we ate 2 of these eggs, and we tried dried squid, and clams. We also had dinner here on monday and had some mussels. It's quite the philipino cultural experience. I also found out from Elder Bryner who is still in Byron, that Jared, the excommunicated guy that we taught, is now eligible to be baptised and the branch president has let them set a date. Also a referral that we got when I was last there, this lady just came to church. I sat with her and entertained one of her little boys. She is now going to have a baptismal date. I didn't get to teach her, but we had taught Jared everything. The fruit is harvested after I left, that's tough, we're struggling to find the people to teach here. Oh well, I did my part in the vineyard to find and teach. I'm here now and I'll find all of my brothers and sisters who are searching, I'll find them all. I just have to do the work I've been called to do. The Lord will bless us here.Love Elder Adams,
Enjoy the pics, I loved the balute, the philipinos couldn't believe that I liked it and was so willing to try these different things. I hope you don't lose your lunch when you look at them. Sister Doll couldn't take the pictures. Love ya tons.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
February 7, 2010
Hi Sister Adams,
My name is Heidi Geigle, your son Elder Adams is currently serving in our ward (Elgin 3rd) he is a great missionary and you can tell he loves the Lord and his Savior Jesus Christ with all his heart. And he is very dedicated to he work out here.
Today he bore his testimony and he spoke so lovingly about his mom and about Your "Christmas day phone call". I am also a mom of a missionary so I knew how much that phone call ment to both him and you. He said he was expressing to you how important it is for you to read the Book of Mormon and that it will change you life, but that it was a little difficult for you to do. This seemed to strike a cord with me. My calling in my ward is the Seminary Teacher. Im sure you know that areas where there are not a lot of members the kids meet super early in the morning before school and have seminary every day. We meet at 5:50 am each day. This is my 3rd year teaching seminary and have loved every minute of it. Why?? Well I have been a member of the church all of my life and I have read the Book Of Mormon a time or two, but man is that book hard to read and understand let alone just try to make it past 2 Nephi. This year we are strdying the BOM in seminary any at my seminary inservice meeting I was challenged to see how the BOM would change my life (this is where you son comes in). After church I asked him to tell me about his mom. He said she is amazing and he great list of all the things you do for him and the family. He was also very proud to say that you were able to go to the Temple with him before his mission and that his dad was able to throuth shortly after with his brother (AWESOME)!! He loves you very much, but I should get to my point. Through the years of teaching seminary I have learned you need a few things to help you study the scriptures. Because sometimes they are like a riddle and you have to figrue out just what on earth it is saying to you. I have come across a series of books for each of the standard works. They are by David J Ridges and they are called Your Study of the Book Of Mormon Made Easier. I call them "Decoder books" they are awesome and are very easy to read and understand. I spend about 2-3 hours a day studying my lesson for the next day and I work for an Optometrist so I don't have a lot of time to search here and there for material. This book gives you back ground of the stories in the BOM and it will even stop in the middle of a sentence to explain what was just said. I recommend these books to everyone I see. I have several of the other seminary teachers in the stake hooked on these. You can find these at Deseret Book and they do come is a series of 3 for the BOM. So to make a long story short...If you want to change your life read the Book of Mormon, and this "decoder" book will help tremendously. You will not know that your life could change so much and you will be astounded at your testimony.
Im so so sorry about the rambling. I hope you enjoy the rest of you day and know that your son is doing very well. In fact we have him set up for dinner Thurs night.
Take care,
Heidi Geigle
PS I do use the manual that is given to me, it is also very helpful.
My name is Heidi Geigle, your son Elder Adams is currently serving in our ward (Elgin 3rd) he is a great missionary and you can tell he loves the Lord and his Savior Jesus Christ with all his heart. And he is very dedicated to he work out here.
Today he bore his testimony and he spoke so lovingly about his mom and about Your "Christmas day phone call". I am also a mom of a missionary so I knew how much that phone call ment to both him and you. He said he was expressing to you how important it is for you to read the Book of Mormon and that it will change you life, but that it was a little difficult for you to do. This seemed to strike a cord with me. My calling in my ward is the Seminary Teacher. Im sure you know that areas where there are not a lot of members the kids meet super early in the morning before school and have seminary every day. We meet at 5:50 am each day. This is my 3rd year teaching seminary and have loved every minute of it. Why?? Well I have been a member of the church all of my life and I have read the Book Of Mormon a time or two, but man is that book hard to read and understand let alone just try to make it past 2 Nephi. This year we are strdying the BOM in seminary any at my seminary inservice meeting I was challenged to see how the BOM would change my life (this is where you son comes in). After church I asked him to tell me about his mom. He said she is amazing and he great list of all the things you do for him and the family. He was also very proud to say that you were able to go to the Temple with him before his mission and that his dad was able to throuth shortly after with his brother (AWESOME)!! He loves you very much, but I should get to my point. Through the years of teaching seminary I have learned you need a few things to help you study the scriptures. Because sometimes they are like a riddle and you have to figrue out just what on earth it is saying to you. I have come across a series of books for each of the standard works. They are by David J Ridges and they are called Your Study of the Book Of Mormon Made Easier. I call them "Decoder books" they are awesome and are very easy to read and understand. I spend about 2-3 hours a day studying my lesson for the next day and I work for an Optometrist so I don't have a lot of time to search here and there for material. This book gives you back ground of the stories in the BOM and it will even stop in the middle of a sentence to explain what was just said. I recommend these books to everyone I see. I have several of the other seminary teachers in the stake hooked on these. You can find these at Deseret Book and they do come is a series of 3 for the BOM. So to make a long story short...If you want to change your life read the Book of Mormon, and this "decoder" book will help tremendously. You will not know that your life could change so much and you will be astounded at your testimony.
Im so so sorry about the rambling. I hope you enjoy the rest of you day and know that your son is doing very well. In fact we have him set up for dinner Thurs night.
Take care,
Heidi Geigle
PS I do use the manual that is given to me, it is also very helpful.
Monday, February 1, 2010
February 1, 2010
tell devin that yes schnitzel is breaded meat that has been fried. that we are rollin it here in Bamberg with busses, but mostly with feet, and that what we cook is pure deliciousness. knödel. rotkohl. blaukraut. stir fry. salads. ect.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
