March 3, 2010

Good to hear from you.  I'm going to be here in Elgin for another transfer with my favorite companion, Elder Layton.  It's going awesome.  We hope to baptize together.  I'm hoping spring will come and melt away the cold.  On the brightside I think I've seen the last of the negatives so that's hopeful.  Keep encouraging spencer with tryouts this week, I know your encouragement always meant a lot to me.  I love you dad, and hope to hear from you next week.

Love Elder Adams

What is this ganster talk? Good to see your face again though. My companion and I will have to buy something. We had transfers today and I'm staying here in Elgin with Elder Layton. I'm way excited!!!! I love you so much Bro. Hang in there and stay strong. Mark Whitsitt, formerly Elder Whitsitt of your mission spoke on Sunday. He told us how he had set baptismal dates all throughout his mission, but they kept falling through, and the work was tough. He said that they even had one man at the edge of the baptismal font and then he changed his mind and decided he did not want to get baptised. This happened all the way through his mission. He committed himself to remain faithfull. He prayed asking what he needed to do, he wanted to be better, he didn't know if he was doing something wrong. Then he just committed himself to remain faithful and trust that the Lord would reward him and that he would be able to baptize. So he continued onward. He didn't understand why baptisms kept falling through. Then the last transfer of his mission in his last area he had a baptism. Those are promises of the Lord being fulfilled. With faith miracles can happen, I've seen it happen in my mission. We are witnessing the Lords blessings here in Elgin. Remain faithful Elder Josh Adams and I know that you will baptize and bring souls unto Christ, through the which you will have joy with them in the kingdom of our Father in Heaven. Success will come. I give you this as my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Love Elder Adams

Hang in there mom, I know that you can do it. It sounds like you had an awesome week. I don't know how Josh is doing it, I would have lost it a while ago. It would bug me just sitting there, I would feel like I was wasting time, so Josh is a better man than me. Maybe there's a purpose that the Lord has in all of this, only time can tell, and for that we must wait out our trials faithfully and endure it well. If you remind me next week I did a study once on what it means to endure a trial well, and I can give you the scriptures for Josh and you.
So we had transfers today. Elder Layton and I are both staying here in Elgin another transfer. I'm so excited for another transfer with Elder Layton. Things have began to click and we hope to see the fruits of our labors. The ward trusts us and loves us. Our ward mission leader, I feel really likes us, and we have the trust of the bishop. We are moving forward and looking forward to our March 14 Sunday invitational, and it looks to be a success.
We've acquired some new investigators this week. The Lord is continuing to bless us. We've deffinately met some interesting people, and had some great lessons. Our teaching has continued to improve, and we continue to teach better and better together. The spirit is deffinately in our lessons and giving us the words to speak, it's incredible. We met a lady the other day, and the feelings that I got and the things that came out of my mouth as I unfolded the doctrine to her, and taught and testified and answered her questions. Then as my companion bore such solemn testimony. It was incredible. This lady has a lot of concerns but is willing to meet with us and to read the The Book of Mormon. We were both ranting and raving about this lesson that we taught and it came about as we were out tracting. It wasn't even a set appointment or one that we had planned for or prepared for. That's the spirit giving us what we need to say!!!! As for our teaching pool this is who we have: Jeanne Anderson, Jay and Della Babek, Noah Dutcher, Rich Enriquez (difficulty getting in contact with him), Rebecca Gianpiccolo, Amy S, Will Rios, and a couple others. A few of these are doing really well in keeping commitments such as reading and praying and meeting with us regularly. We hope to have around 4 of these baptized this transfer, they are doing so well right now. We pray for them daily by name that they will be able to keep the commitments we give them.

This week I did something really great. We had a special meeting called by the bishop on Sunday, to discuss the Elder Perry conference. It started at 7:00. Now this week was my companion’s 21birthday and I had planned to make him breakfast on Sunday. At first I thought that my plans would have to change. I determined that I would tell him that I was going to get up early and shower first. I did so and hurried and got ready. Then when he was in the shower I set to cooking. I made him scrambled eggs and chocolate chip pancakes. He was so surprised when he came out and saw what I was doing! He was way excited. Inside I thought, "YES, success!!!" I felt so good. He said that none of his other companions had ever done anything like this. I told him he deserved it because it was his birthday this week and he has been such a great companion. I felt so good all throughout the day. Elder Layton really liked my breakfast and was really thankful, he said it meant a lot to him.

The Elder Perry conference was great. I met a lot of missionaries from the South mission. What a privilege to be at the feet of an apostle. I realize the gravity of having a man like Paul or Peter in our presence and on this earth. How incredible. I found how important it is that we inform people, boldly of what it is that makes us unique. Tell the message of the apostasy, and the glorious reality of the restoration. We have to tell them that apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ again walk the earth. Elder Perry speaks with such power and conviction, and that's how we need to do it. I love this gospel and teaching this message. It's incredible the feelings you get.


Elder Layton and I are both looking forward to another transfer, and we are excited. Here we go!!


Love Elder Adams

P.S.-Good Job on your lesson, it sounds like it was a success!!!