April 14, 2010

I witnessed a lot of miracles and the work really went forward there. I saw that area transform. In the Elgin 3rd ward I developed the strongest and closest relationships with some members in the ward. It was really good to come close to them. Elder Layton as well has been my favorite companion, and he really seemed like a friend. I loved serving with him. For all of these reasons, this transfer change was hard. I'll miss all of the above. Thank you for the opportunity and the blessing.
I know that there is someone in Belvidere that is waiting for me to talk to them. I'm going to find them and speak to them. I have six weeks to do all that I can in Belvidere, and I am going to rise to this new challenge. I feel a surge of inspiration to conquer this task ahead. I'm just at the mission home right now on Sis. Dolls laptop, so I'll try and write more when I get to the area. I'm being whitewashed into the area, so hopefully we have time. A last big challenge lies ahead at the end here.
love Elder Adams

Yes I did get the Easter package that you sent me. Thank you so much it was nice, and I am glad that you didn't send a bunch of junk or spend a lot of money. It sounds like Josh is falling apart. With the big toe hurting and what not. I want to say what hurts on my body too. I have these callases that are on the bottom of my feet on the balls of my feet that have gotten huge, and so it has hurt for quite a while now to walk on them. I've been wearing two pairs of socks for a while to DEAL WITH IT. That's what you have to do Josh, gut it out. Let any pain and suffering be swallowed up in the work that we do for Christ, for him. I had a rash a month or so back that lasted for a month. It was on my chest and arms and I couldn't sleep some nights, but then I got this special cream from a member and I'd put that on and it helped. I think it was stress as well, it eventually went away though. Sometimes I would scratch it so much that it would bleed, it was nasty and red. It looked like the blood had come to the surface. The reason I don't tell you about things though is because I know that you'll call the mission office. A while back ago I was bit by another dog, did I tell you...no.... why....because you call the mission office and make a big deal out of it. See I'm still living today, and I didn't have to waste a bunch of time at a doctor's office when I can be out finding those the Lord has prepared and talking to people and teaching the Gospel. I only have two years to share this message as a full time missionary with the power and authority of my calling so I'm going to do it all out. Well I guess I don't have 2 years anymore, but we're not going to talk about that right now. I might have to have surgery on those callusses on my feet though, for now I might just get some better insoles and keep wearing 2 socks.
Anyway, I'm here in Belvidere with my new companion Elder Larkin. He as well goes home the same time as me, which is odd. Belvidere is out in the middle of nowhere again, but it's not as bad as Byron. We have a Wal-Mart and there's a lot more businesses. I don't know much about the area right now. However we live with members. We live in the basement in "The Batcave," that's what I'm terming it. My companions study desk is under the stairs, it's small and cramped, and really messy. These members are not the tidiest housekeepers. The fridge is super cluttered, but they say we can have anything that we want, but there's not much room to put our things in. It's going to be difficult living arrangements. When I got this call about being transfered It was hard. I had a lot of feelings of sadness, anger, resentment, and it was hard. Especially to say goodbye to people, and to leave Elder Layton, especially after we'd spent 2 transfers knocking doors and tracting our butts off and finally we had people to teach. We even had a baptismal date for Hellen Locket on May 8 and the night before we got the call we set a date for a 9 year old boy of a part member family for May 22. (The mom still wants to see if I can come to his baptism). Things were starting to happen, and now transfered. It was hard, but it's a challenge and I will rise to it. It's the last hoorah. Elder Layton said that I'm a sower. So that's what I've got to do. 6 weeks to find that one whom God has prepared, the reason God has sent me at the end of my mission. That's what a member said is the reason I'm going here. So this will be my challenge, 6 weeks to do it. Build the kingdom here. We're going to hit it hard, even though I know this companion doesn't like to tract, we've got to find these people and make it happen here. I thank you all for the love and support from home, keep those prayers going up in my behalf, because I'm going to need them here. I love you all but I don't have much time and I have to go, I'm on a time limit here at the library.

Love Elder Adams