May 12, 2010

We had a lot more success this week in finding new investigators. This week has been a good start as well. On Monday we met with this new investigator, Jennifer. She has been sober for 3 years last october, about a year and a half ago. It was at this time that she felt that something was missing and so she began to search. She went back to her catholic church to see if it was there, but she didn't feel it there. She looked in other places, and had heard from the Jehovahs witness but nothing came. She then was having a hard time with life and her husband began to drink again and she was praying. He was then taken to jail. It was shortly after this happened that we knocked on her door. After we had presented the restoration to her and the Book of Mormon, she told us that she had felt something when she first talked to us at her door, and that that was why she had agreed to have us back, because normally like with the Jehovah's witnesses, she tells them all no. Our situation was different. When we came by for our appointment she was ready to meet with us but we didn’t have another male with us. I had to use the bathroom and my companion chirped up and said so for me. I went in and used her bathroom and after I was relieved I got on the cell phone and called Brother Berry, the member that we live with. While I was in the bathroom!!!!!! He was home and was willing to hurry over. It was a miracle, I just thought we had to meet with her right then, and it all worked out. The day that we came by to meet, at the end of the meeting she said that she was having a really hard day, but when we started to talk she said that she felt a peace and serenity start to come back again. This is so incredible she was feeling the spirit testify to her!!! The spirit was with us!!! It was working through us to touch her. I love seeing miracles like this and seeing how God leads us to people and people to us.

We have also met with Sister Sepsey last night and her 12 year old daughter who is not a member, and we talked about baptism. This little girl started to cry as I asked her when she wanted to have the Holy Ghost in her life. She said that she did want to be baptized. Something was wrong or had happened I think that prevented her from being baptized because her mom is divorced. She kept the tears in the corner of her eyes and I think she tried to hide them. She’s a smart girl though and knows a lot about the gospel. Brandy however looks like she has hit a brick wall. Her significant other wants to do the wedding his way, so regardless of her most earnest desires to get baptized she won't be able to because she is held back by someone elses decisions. This is the saddest things to see. Her is a young lady who knows it is all true and wants a remission of her sins and new life for herself and wants to marry the one she loves, but can't do it because he has reservations, even though they have 2 kids between them. It's sad to see. I don't know how to help them, it's up to her boyfriend. What's even more complicated is that they are living with his parents who are active members. He is not active at all and wants nothing to do with the Church. I don't know.

There's a lot of good to be done here, and things are starting to really get rolling. We’ve had a couple of other really neat experiences. Like Juan and his daughter just bringing out this older copy of the Book of Mormon. He had no idea where it came from. He’d never heard our message either. I don’t know. The only thing I can say is that the Lord is leading and guiding us. We have also ran into a number of these people that used to be members, well still are, but they don’t attend and we get to talking to them. These are The Lord’s lost sheep. These are the saddest when you have to walk away from their doorstep, because these are the ones that once had it, that knew of the truth and lived it and for one reason or another have forsaken the path. It’s sad, but it’s more of an instilment for me to stay true to my testimony and hold to the iron rod. Things are looking like they are really starting to get going here. It's too bad we don't have just a little more time. Especially to see what happens to some of these people.


This is my first part of my email, more to come.

Next week I might not email much. We are planning to meet Bill down in Chicago for the day. We are taking the metra train down, the big double decker!!!!! I'll check my email and try to write something though when we stop by the apple store in downtown. Next wednesday, the last P-day, it's going to be a fun one.


Love Elder Adams

This was something President sent us that I guess was in the Chicago Tribune. I love you Mom. Mother's day is important.

Mormon moms prepare for special day
Missionaries can call home on Mother's Day
By Manya A. Brachear, Tribune reporter

May 8, 2010

For children who leave home and move on, Mother's Day is often marked by the much-anticipated long-distance call home.

For mothers of missionaries in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that anticipation lasts months, making the time-honored tradition particularly meaningful.

In addition to sending weekly e-mail notes or handwritten letters, young Mormon missionaries can talk to their families only twice a year. The cherished semiannual ritual falls on Christmas and Mother's Day, holidays when either Jesus Christ or family is the focus. The calls also serve as reassurance and mile markers for mothers who aren't there to witness their children's transition into adulthood.

"My mom is the best mom in the world," said Elder James Hilton, 21, who is nearing the end of a mission in Sapporo, Japan. (A missionary is addressed as elder during an assignment.) "Me and my brothers were everything to her and still are. For her, my getting to go to the place I've always wanted to go was great. But at the same time, it means I'm growing up and leaving her."

While the imposed absence from mom and dad serves to foster a deeper appreciation for parenthood among young missionaries, parents often have the hardest time letting go, making the ring of the telephone on Mother's Day the greatest gift.

"You spend the couple weeks before the phone call mapping out your questions, any concerns you have," said Alysia Hilton, of Glenview, who is eager to make her second Mother's Day call to Japan on Sunday. "I go back and forth between being the first and letting my husband say goodbye, or last. I don't know if I'm going to weep the last 15 minutes and make him upset."

More than 50,000 full-time missionaries — mostly men — ages 19 to 30 serve as missionaries for the Latter-day Saints. Young men can serve 24 months beginning at age 19. Young women can serve 18 months beginning at age 21.

Based on Jesus' instruction in the New Testament to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations," the church's missionaries introduce people to Mormon teachings, including the church's code of health and nutrition, the Book of Mormon and its beliefs about reuniting with family in the afterlife.

Missionaries maintain only weekly written communication with their family in order to focus on their ministry. The semiannual telephone calls are usually limited to 45 minutes or an hour.

"The mindset of a mission is it's not your time, it's God's time," said James Hilton.

But the regimen is often more taxing for the mothers than the missionaries.

"To be physically separated from so far a distance, I didn't know what that ever would feel like," Alysia Hilton said. "I really love my boys. They're my whole life."

While two years may seem like an eternity for moms, the time often flies for missionaries.

For Elder Jonathan Scott, 19, who just began his mission in Fullerton, Calif., two years is just a sliver of time, considering the church teaching that he will be sealed to his family for time and eternity.

But as the days slowly tick down to her son's return in 18 months, Auralee Scott, of Northbrook, wishes she could be her son's sounding board as he faces the rejection Mormon missionaries often encounter. Reading about his struggles in letters only seems to widen the distance.

"I worry about him," she said. "I want him to feel successful. I just have the faith that he's where he should be and God is watching over him. Basically, I believe there must be some kind of lesson he'll learn from this."

Scott has already prepared a care package for her son's 20th birthday this month. It includes a roster of missionaries on both sides of the family, including his father, grandfathers, uncles and cousins. She hopes it will provide some encouragement.

"It's the sort of thing he can take pride in," she said. "He's one of them."

Though Auralee Scott never did a mission — she was engaged at age 21 — her son credits her with instilling a mission mindset. Since age 4, he has collected money for the assignment. She taught him lessons that supported him on the mission field and helped him pack his bags.

"You can see how much we value motherhood as a sacred responsibility," Jonathan Scott said. "My mother is my example to me growing up. Her knowledge and testimony of the gospel, that's partially why I'm here."


President seems to be pleased with what we are trying to do here with the Belvidere Branch. There wasn't much when we got her but things are getting up and going. It's frustrating that we don't have enough time to see things play out or to work it a bit more and see if we can't surely see some results and the fruits of it all. Here's what President wrote this week.

Reply From President

Thank you for reporting to me about your proselyting activities and the various people that you\'re working with. I can see that you continue to work hard in contacting people and talking to everyone. That\'s a great. It\'s a wonderful example to those about you. I can see that you are working hard right to the end of your mission. Thank you for working hard to help Elder Larkin to have a positive and his mission also. I\'m sure that the people in your branch appreciate all that the two of you are doing.

Yeah I have no idea how things are going to get home. Some are saying that they charge you even for your first bag!!!! I have no idea. I might see if I can send the bike home and just ship it. I don't know I'll have the members look things up for me. Next week we are going to the city to be with Bill, so that is going to be an excursion by train. I won't have a lot of time. I have a feeling that I'm going to get charged for bags no matter what, unless I leave stuff here. I think I can take a backpack and my small bag on as carry on, but then I don't know what they are going to charge me after that. I'm trying to figure things out, but honestly I have no idea. I wish that I didn't have to worry about it all and it would all just happen. It's like you said that it's all inevitable now, it's happening, I'm coming home, and now there is so much stuff to take care of and to worry about. Time sweeps by so quickly, and that day is ever on the forefront of my mind. I just want to be here and do the mission and not have to worry about everything, but the fact that it is coming so close makes it difficult. I guess this is a good reason to call it a push. It's almost like someone is pushing me towards that date, days go by fast and it's inevitable. Tell Josh Congrats on his calling as a zone leader. He's going to do awesome. I've heard it's a lot of paperwork and meetings though.

Like I said I'll probably check my email down at the apple store in downtown really quick next week and write you for the last time. Wow, for the last email, that's intense, it will be a lot of last times for everything after that. Oh, when I talked to Bill he said that he finally got a wedding announcement from Elder Purdie, and his is this Friday. He's been engaged since like January. Anyway, I love you all so much and I hope that you had a great mother's day. You're all in my prayers,

Love your,
Elder Adams

I finally got to look at the pics of Josh, Nice. It's good to see my bro. He's so lucky. This morning I was thinking about it, and he has a whole year still ahead of him. It goes by fast, especially after the year. This whole 2 years has gone by fast. This morning I thought about how lucky he is, he still has a whole year ahead. Tell him I love him

Love Elder Adams