Monday, December 27, 2010
The Long awaited Christmas call
WE WERE ABLE TO USE SKYPE ON CHRISTMAS DAY! IT WAS SO GOOD TO SEE JAKE AND HEAR HIS BROKEN ENGLISH! HE SAID HE DREAMS IN SPANISH NOW. I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED HE WOULD LOOSE HIS FABULOUS SENSE OF HUMOR BUT NO!! HE KEPT US ALL LAUGHING! HE IS JUST THE SAME JAKE ONLY WITH AN ACCENT. LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND HE WILL BE HOME!! SHORT LETTER BECAUSE OF THE CALL.
SHEREEN
familia
Welp as for changes. I'm staying here in suba for another transfer with elder huaita. In which I'm pumped. They also sent some pretty great elders here to help out some elders that need help. So I'm pretty excited to get to work this change with the zone.
I felt impressed this afternoon that great things are going to happen here in zona suba and in my area. My companion is the great!
I loved talking with you guys a lot. So great to see your faces. You'll have to keep forgiving me for my English.
This call just reminded me again how little time i have left and how precious it is.
Thanks for being the best family ever. I love each and everyone of you and for the vital role you have in my life.
con un abrazo gigante!!
e. adams
attch. your package wrapped up and divided!
SHEREEN
familia
Welp as for changes. I'm staying here in suba for another transfer with elder huaita. In which I'm pumped. They also sent some pretty great elders here to help out some elders that need help. So I'm pretty excited to get to work this change with the zone.
I felt impressed this afternoon that great things are going to happen here in zona suba and in my area. My companion is the great!
I loved talking with you guys a lot. So great to see your faces. You'll have to keep forgiving me for my English.
This call just reminded me again how little time i have left and how precious it is.
Thanks for being the best family ever. I love each and everyone of you and for the vital role you have in my life.
con un abrazo gigante!!
e. adams
attch. your package wrapped up and divided!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Laguna de Gautavita
familia mia,
antes que todo. I got your package, i just opened it to take out the what could be urgent, and put everything else right back in there to have a great christmas morning for me and my companions! THANKS!
I write today because we changed our prep. day so we could go to the laguna de gautavita (I bet you can wikipedia it). It was great. We had contracted a guy to drive our whole zone in a bus because it's pretty remote. The story is that it was a sacred ritual site of the native tribe that lived here before the Inquisition. The idea is that this place is special because it was a combination of the two creating forces of life --- masculine and feminine. Similar to spanish, every thing had a gender, the water being feminine, the mountians being masculine, so this little lake that resides in the top of the mountains was a fusion of the two forces. So they offered their gold to it. When the spanards found it they went nuts and cut a side out of the wall to drain the water and take out the gold. It's estimated that they took out over 8 tons of gold. resulting also in lowering the lagoon to about a half the size (the water got to about where we were standing before). So needless to say --- i was eating it all up, and the guide wanted to answer all my questions! And i hope you all remember how much I like to ask questions. The natives were concidently doing a rutual there to celebrate the end of their year, followed by a bunch of rich naturalist that wanted to help them out. The fun thing was as we watched these suposibly poor little indigeousness guys get secretly into their nice SUV. good stuff.
This week has been great. Last week i had the opportunity to go on interchanges with the whole zone, do to the fact that we are in a trio right now. I had some great experiences...
Yolanda and her 9 yera old daughter Natalia, have had nothing to do with the church for over ten years. Yolanda quickly inactived after being baptized when she was 16, but she always remembered the church when she saw the missionaries pass by, but every time they were never within reach. Two weeks ago, she saw them again, and gained the power necessary to greet them. This moment resulted in an invitation to go to christmas devotional where the spirit filled her, teaching her what she once had known, and even more. Her daughter, will be baptized the 1st of January.
... I ran out of time but i will tell you more when we talk this saturday!
JESS I'm glad your feelin better. you get that ear ready to hear my broken english saturday ok! btw the CD is great!!!!
i'm thinking 4 oclock utah time... ill call friday afternoon to verifiy...
I love you all, so much and can't wait to talk to you,
feliz navidad,
e. adams
p.s. it seemed like google talk was better, i guess we'll see!
antes que todo. I got your package, i just opened it to take out the what could be urgent, and put everything else right back in there to have a great christmas morning for me and my companions! THANKS!
I write today because we changed our prep. day so we could go to the laguna de gautavita (I bet you can wikipedia it). It was great. We had contracted a guy to drive our whole zone in a bus because it's pretty remote. The story is that it was a sacred ritual site of the native tribe that lived here before the Inquisition. The idea is that this place is special because it was a combination of the two creating forces of life --- masculine and feminine. Similar to spanish, every thing had a gender, the water being feminine, the mountians being masculine, so this little lake that resides in the top of the mountains was a fusion of the two forces. So they offered their gold to it. When the spanards found it they went nuts and cut a side out of the wall to drain the water and take out the gold. It's estimated that they took out over 8 tons of gold. resulting also in lowering the lagoon to about a half the size (the water got to about where we were standing before). So needless to say --- i was eating it all up, and the guide wanted to answer all my questions! And i hope you all remember how much I like to ask questions. The natives were concidently doing a rutual there to celebrate the end of their year, followed by a bunch of rich naturalist that wanted to help them out. The fun thing was as we watched these suposibly poor little indigeousness guys get secretly into their nice SUV. good stuff.
This week has been great. Last week i had the opportunity to go on interchanges with the whole zone, do to the fact that we are in a trio right now. I had some great experiences...
Yolanda and her 9 yera old daughter Natalia, have had nothing to do with the church for over ten years. Yolanda quickly inactived after being baptized when she was 16, but she always remembered the church when she saw the missionaries pass by, but every time they were never within reach. Two weeks ago, she saw them again, and gained the power necessary to greet them. This moment resulted in an invitation to go to christmas devotional where the spirit filled her, teaching her what she once had known, and even more. Her daughter, will be baptized the 1st of January.
... I ran out of time but i will tell you more when we talk this saturday!
JESS I'm glad your feelin better. you get that ear ready to hear my broken english saturday ok! btw the CD is great!!!!
i'm thinking 4 oclock utah time... ill call friday afternoon to verifiy...
I love you all, so much and can't wait to talk to you,
feliz navidad,
e. adams
p.s. it seemed like google talk was better, i guess we'll see!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
feliz cumpleaños
mi familia amada,
I would love to write to everyone but time is too short, so i send you all a big THANK YOU! I believe I had a new record for happy birthday messages. Soo great to hear from anyone. We changed our p-day to today because it was our turn to go to the temple and its closed monday. Nevertheless, it meant a lot to hear from all the people that I love.
Ha, the whole 21 year old drinking thing isn't a big deal down here, you can go buy a beer when your like 10 here.
My birthday was great and unforgetable for a couple of reasons
1. I forgot it was my birthday! I believe it was the only opportunity like that I'll ever have... it was like 8 oclock when one of the elders I live with wished me happy birthday.
2. no one else knew it was my birthday! Ha I know these things might sound sad, but theyre not! My whole zone knew and we wished me happy birthday in the zone meeting, sang happy birthday and gave me a cake. So that was enough for me. Then I went on interchanges with an elder that is finishing his mission tomorrow. So they didn't know who i was so they defiantly didn't know it was my birthday.
But it really was one of the greatest birthday's that i have ever had. We met and talked with amazing people, we were able to teach people by the spirit, and have these people teach us. I fill a lot better when i'm focused on others, than on myself, and what happens usually on a birthday is it becomes ''all about me'', but when there is nobody to focus on you, it call be ''all about them''. It is so much better to love than to be loved. Nevertheless, i know i am very loved by you all, and that means everything to me.
I'm loving this christmas season! we were able to sing in the choir for the stake christmas fireside. We have plans to go around to all the areas to sing christmas carols. its going to be great!
1) Can you skype again?
OF COURSE!
2) Can you call an 800 number in the states without too much trouble?
OF COURSE!
3) Can you call on the phone and be on skpye at the same time?
This a little more tough, but i'll work on it.
4) Any idea what time you might call?
No idea. when ever it would be most conveinent . it's a saturday and we don't have a baptismal service (yet).
I can't believe robert will be home for christmas and will be studying in january. i wish him the best.
You mentioned that you guys might want to come to pick me up? i'm down if your down. but we'll talk about that later i still got six months left to work my hardest!
thanks for the birthday wishes and gifts! I love you all so much!
love,
e. adams!
attch. it's a colombian tradition to have them try to take out a candle with their mouth and then you smashe their head in the cake. after being here for a year and half i've figured that one out but i just complied.
I would love to write to everyone but time is too short, so i send you all a big THANK YOU! I believe I had a new record for happy birthday messages. Soo great to hear from anyone. We changed our p-day to today because it was our turn to go to the temple and its closed monday. Nevertheless, it meant a lot to hear from all the people that I love.
Ha, the whole 21 year old drinking thing isn't a big deal down here, you can go buy a beer when your like 10 here.
My birthday was great and unforgetable for a couple of reasons
1. I forgot it was my birthday! I believe it was the only opportunity like that I'll ever have... it was like 8 oclock when one of the elders I live with wished me happy birthday.
2. no one else knew it was my birthday! Ha I know these things might sound sad, but theyre not! My whole zone knew and we wished me happy birthday in the zone meeting, sang happy birthday and gave me a cake. So that was enough for me. Then I went on interchanges with an elder that is finishing his mission tomorrow. So they didn't know who i was so they defiantly didn't know it was my birthday.
But it really was one of the greatest birthday's that i have ever had. We met and talked with amazing people, we were able to teach people by the spirit, and have these people teach us. I fill a lot better when i'm focused on others, than on myself, and what happens usually on a birthday is it becomes ''all about me'', but when there is nobody to focus on you, it call be ''all about them''. It is so much better to love than to be loved. Nevertheless, i know i am very loved by you all, and that means everything to me.
I'm loving this christmas season! we were able to sing in the choir for the stake christmas fireside. We have plans to go around to all the areas to sing christmas carols. its going to be great!
1) Can you skype again?
OF COURSE!
2) Can you call an 800 number in the states without too much trouble?
OF COURSE!
3) Can you call on the phone and be on skpye at the same time?
This a little more tough, but i'll work on it.
4) Any idea what time you might call?
No idea. when ever it would be most conveinent . it's a saturday and we don't have a baptismal service (yet).
I can't believe robert will be home for christmas and will be studying in january. i wish him the best.
You mentioned that you guys might want to come to pick me up? i'm down if your down. but we'll talk about that later i still got six months left to work my hardest!
thanks for the birthday wishes and gifts! I love you all so much!
love,
e. adams!
attch. it's a colombian tradition to have them try to take out a candle with their mouth and then you smashe their head in the cake. after being here for a year and half i've figured that one out but i just complied.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
No letter this week
I have been bugging Jake for a couple of weeks to send his testimony so that it can be read in the foothills ward Christmas program. He sent the testimony but no time to write the letter. I loved reading his testimony it was great!! I will post it after the Christmas program for those who follow his blog from the foothills ward.
Thanks!
Shereen
Thanks!
Shereen
Monday, November 29, 2010
Drying shoes over stove
Don't you worry, I still got those those neutral autumn colors deep inside me. How could I forget about thanksgiving?
We thought about buying pavo (turkey), but it's just not microwavable. So after we got done planning, it was ten and I was thinking about how I could save thanksgiving... I ran to the fridge to look at what I could get delivered... I just picked the most american thing I could find --- baby back ribs with bbq sauce. So, I didn't have stuffing, turkey, nor yams, but my ribs were great!
I have heard things about the niña cycle? has it been raining and blizzards in the U.S.? because it sure has been here. It rains EVERY DAY in Bogota. I have a pretty killer umbrella that i have bought from a guy that repairs them, half price! what's up! That one's for mom and her bargain shopping!! I'm trying to find the best way to dry my shoes everyday. The hold-your-shoves-over-the-stove method has been working alright. But i just need to find my self a cheap hair dryer.
It's gettin to be snowboarding time. What joy! I tell the people here that snow is much better than rain but they just don't believe me.
There are 12 missionaries in our zone. It's going great. The assistants told me that I was here because I'm one the few who was here when suba baptized tons. This zone has gone down a lot in baptisms. It use to be the gold mine on the mission. There is a lot to do, but i got TOO many good ideas for activities to do for this christmas. I believe my Christmas inspiration comes from my mother.
My companion and I are doing great together, we are pumped because the bishop and the ward mission leader are pumped.
I got the birthday package. loved it! You guys are the BEST!
We are working our best on helping la familia torres move along on their way to baptism. This last week wer found all the the papers. This week we're going to go the notary to set a date for the marriage. German, the father, has a huge problem with smoking. We're praying for him and we made this pretty sweet calender on Word so that he could write the number of cigarettes he smokes everyday until he gets down to 0, and ready for his baptism.
Thanks for all your support. Estoy demasiado agradecido por ustedes.
I love you all!!
e. adams
We thought about buying pavo (turkey), but it's just not microwavable. So after we got done planning, it was ten and I was thinking about how I could save thanksgiving... I ran to the fridge to look at what I could get delivered... I just picked the most american thing I could find --- baby back ribs with bbq sauce. So, I didn't have stuffing, turkey, nor yams, but my ribs were great!
I have heard things about the niña cycle? has it been raining and blizzards in the U.S.? because it sure has been here. It rains EVERY DAY in Bogota. I have a pretty killer umbrella that i have bought from a guy that repairs them, half price! what's up! That one's for mom and her bargain shopping!! I'm trying to find the best way to dry my shoes everyday. The hold-your-shoves-over-the-stove method has been working alright. But i just need to find my self a cheap hair dryer.
It's gettin to be snowboarding time. What joy! I tell the people here that snow is much better than rain but they just don't believe me.
There are 12 missionaries in our zone. It's going great. The assistants told me that I was here because I'm one the few who was here when suba baptized tons. This zone has gone down a lot in baptisms. It use to be the gold mine on the mission. There is a lot to do, but i got TOO many good ideas for activities to do for this christmas. I believe my Christmas inspiration comes from my mother.
My companion and I are doing great together, we are pumped because the bishop and the ward mission leader are pumped.
I got the birthday package. loved it! You guys are the BEST!
We are working our best on helping la familia torres move along on their way to baptism. This last week wer found all the the papers. This week we're going to go the notary to set a date for the marriage. German, the father, has a huge problem with smoking. We're praying for him and we made this pretty sweet calender on Word so that he could write the number of cigarettes he smokes everyday until he gets down to 0, and ready for his baptism.
Thanks for all your support. Estoy demasiado agradecido por ustedes.
I love you all!!
e. adams
Monday, November 22, 2010
Almost companion
How is life with a gringo companion?
welp. about that. ha, in the terminal of bogota i was talking to one of the elder's and they told me my companion wasn't elder Gardiner, but indeed, was elder Huita. So instead of fixing my english, i'll be improving my spanish. much better. I got the rest of my life to live and talk with gringos.
Do you get along good with your new comp? Is he a hard worker?
I assumed that these two questions can be answered with one. YES. He's the best. He's from lima - peru, super cool, humble guy. We were actually here in the same zone of suba, at the same time last year. I always thought it would be cool to be companions with him.
Did you get a different leadership position with the transfer?
I loved being with the sisters last change in sogamoso. I was able to learn a lot. I'm now serving a zone leader with e. Huita. We're super pumped to help out our zone. We have a bunch of activities planned to hopefully find more investigators, along with encouraging and inspiring them.
At the moment, we are in Bucarmanga! for the zone leader conference. we left from bogota yesterday at 230 and got here at 1230. We just played soccer, btw my soccer skills are slowly getting better. I Had lunch and I believe were going to to have a ping pong tournament tonight, tomorrow we are going to have a training meeting. My companion and I were asigined to train. I found this quote by Hugh Nibley while preparing, and thought it would be great for my managment family.
“Leadership is an escape from mediocrity. All the great deposits of art, science, and literature from the past, on which all civilization has been nourished, come to us from a mere handful of leaders. For the qualities of leadership are the same in all fields, the leader being simply the one who sets the highest example; and to do that and open the way to greater light and knowledge, the leader must break the mold. “A ship in port is safe,” says Captain Hopper speaking of management, “but that is not what ships were built for,” ... calling for leadership.”
As for my area, we both came at the same time so we get lost a lot, but still loving it. We are working on getting a family married They are called la familia Torres. They are great, the best. They a very humble. We sometimes just don't understand how much God has given us, until we see those who don't have the gospel. The teenage kids discribe the church as ''Perfect``. They are inspiring. They never miss church.
Mom would love colombia because the christmas season starts before Thanksgiving. but then again, they don't have thanksgiving. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it to. Thinking about this christmas, really I'm fine. I don't need anything. Mom, go ahead and keep buying those white shirts, but i bet it would be better if you keep up stocked up, I have enough here and and they get thrashed, so i probably will just come home with the shirt on my back and give the rest to others. But I would love if we could help others out. The missionaries in my zone, or district or companion. The Torres Family. I don't know how but I know that the majority of the missionaries in my zone won't be recieving packages this christmas. I don't know what we could do for them, maybe we can brainstorm! But, I do have all that I could ever need.
I love it here, and I love you.
Thanks for everything,
e. adams
welp. about that. ha, in the terminal of bogota i was talking to one of the elder's and they told me my companion wasn't elder Gardiner, but indeed, was elder Huita. So instead of fixing my english, i'll be improving my spanish. much better. I got the rest of my life to live and talk with gringos.
Do you get along good with your new comp? Is he a hard worker?
I assumed that these two questions can be answered with one. YES. He's the best. He's from lima - peru, super cool, humble guy. We were actually here in the same zone of suba, at the same time last year. I always thought it would be cool to be companions with him.
Did you get a different leadership position with the transfer?
I loved being with the sisters last change in sogamoso. I was able to learn a lot. I'm now serving a zone leader with e. Huita. We're super pumped to help out our zone. We have a bunch of activities planned to hopefully find more investigators, along with encouraging and inspiring them.
At the moment, we are in Bucarmanga! for the zone leader conference. we left from bogota yesterday at 230 and got here at 1230. We just played soccer, btw my soccer skills are slowly getting better. I Had lunch and I believe were going to to have a ping pong tournament tonight, tomorrow we are going to have a training meeting. My companion and I were asigined to train. I found this quote by Hugh Nibley while preparing, and thought it would be great for my managment family.
“Leadership is an escape from mediocrity. All the great deposits of art, science, and literature from the past, on which all civilization has been nourished, come to us from a mere handful of leaders. For the qualities of leadership are the same in all fields, the leader being simply the one who sets the highest example; and to do that and open the way to greater light and knowledge, the leader must break the mold. “A ship in port is safe,” says Captain Hopper speaking of management, “but that is not what ships were built for,” ... calling for leadership.”
As for my area, we both came at the same time so we get lost a lot, but still loving it. We are working on getting a family married They are called la familia Torres. They are great, the best. They a very humble. We sometimes just don't understand how much God has given us, until we see those who don't have the gospel. The teenage kids discribe the church as ''Perfect``. They are inspiring. They never miss church.
Mom would love colombia because the christmas season starts before Thanksgiving. but then again, they don't have thanksgiving. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it to. Thinking about this christmas, really I'm fine. I don't need anything. Mom, go ahead and keep buying those white shirts, but i bet it would be better if you keep up stocked up, I have enough here and and they get thrashed, so i probably will just come home with the shirt on my back and give the rest to others. But I would love if we could help others out. The missionaries in my zone, or district or companion. The Torres Family. I don't know how but I know that the majority of the missionaries in my zone won't be recieving packages this christmas. I don't know what we could do for them, maybe we can brainstorm! But, I do have all that I could ever need.
I love it here, and I love you.
Thanks for everything,
e. adams
Beloved Suba
familia,
To first set things straight, I have a change, along with my companion. We all knew he was heading out, because he already has 6 months here, and we thought that I was going to stay. But, My comp is heading to bogota, along with me. I'm returning to my beloved Suba! I was just there 6 months ago. ha. So it looks like ill be having another suba christmas. They should have just called me the Colombia Bogota - Suba Mission. My companion will be elder gardiner, he has basically the same time as me in the mission. Its rare here in the mission to have two gringos together, i hope my spanish doesnt worsen. Nevertheless, im excited. Mainly because of being soo close the people who i grew to love so much. As a matter of fact, 5 converts that i had while in la campina moved to the ward that ill be in, and are now less active. So it's going to be great to be able to visit them and help them come back to the fold. Also! Familia Beroy is getting ready to enter the temple, so i'll be able to go with them! Lifes so good. Yes, ill be in an area for a long time, but at least not a 1 and a half like michael curry!
It makes me a little sad to leave this area. We were getting things moving, the ward was progressing, these past couple weeks. We had a killer week teaching Lorena. We taught her, she opened up more, and we were able to give her a blessing to quiet smoking. I felt impressed to tell her that she could never smoke again. The next day she called us, super excited telling us how much temptation there was, but she was able to resist. She is progressing a lot, and I hope after trying to fellowship her with a member she'll still be able to progress even though both of are leaving.
I'm sorry. this letter is short. but i gotta go!
But i hope you guys enjoy the rest of your trip! ive told you once, ill tell you again, mom and dad, you have always been my example of what a marriage full of love is. i love you both so much. and i really owe everything to you. Being away from our family, for a long time, i've really come to understand all that i have. We are so blessed.
i love you all. soo much.
e. adams
To first set things straight, I have a change, along with my companion. We all knew he was heading out, because he already has 6 months here, and we thought that I was going to stay. But, My comp is heading to bogota, along with me. I'm returning to my beloved Suba! I was just there 6 months ago. ha. So it looks like ill be having another suba christmas. They should have just called me the Colombia Bogota - Suba Mission. My companion will be elder gardiner, he has basically the same time as me in the mission. Its rare here in the mission to have two gringos together, i hope my spanish doesnt worsen. Nevertheless, im excited. Mainly because of being soo close the people who i grew to love so much. As a matter of fact, 5 converts that i had while in la campina moved to the ward that ill be in, and are now less active. So it's going to be great to be able to visit them and help them come back to the fold. Also! Familia Beroy is getting ready to enter the temple, so i'll be able to go with them! Lifes so good. Yes, ill be in an area for a long time, but at least not a 1 and a half like michael curry!
It makes me a little sad to leave this area. We were getting things moving, the ward was progressing, these past couple weeks. We had a killer week teaching Lorena. We taught her, she opened up more, and we were able to give her a blessing to quiet smoking. I felt impressed to tell her that she could never smoke again. The next day she called us, super excited telling us how much temptation there was, but she was able to resist. She is progressing a lot, and I hope after trying to fellowship her with a member she'll still be able to progress even though both of are leaving.
I'm sorry. this letter is short. but i gotta go!
But i hope you guys enjoy the rest of your trip! ive told you once, ill tell you again, mom and dad, you have always been my example of what a marriage full of love is. i love you both so much. and i really owe everything to you. Being away from our family, for a long time, i've really come to understand all that i have. We are so blessed.
i love you all. soo much.
e. adams
Monday, November 8, 2010
Loving the Boyaca
Mom! and family,
i'd like to apoligize if i've already started off my letter biased, but I soooo do love my mom!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I won't go off on old age jokes like i did with dad, cause we all know your a little more sensative. nevertheless, i'm so glad that you had a killer birthday party and recieved two elder adams-approved gifts, a new camera and a mac product. we're so alike.
Today, we went to a little town that's known for their arts and crafts, one of the sisters bought a doll at one store, and then later saw a different one that she wish she would have bought instead, i quickly told her ''Well, if you had my mom, for a mom, you wouldn't had done that.'' haha. i told her, ''you got shop for the best deals before you buy, duh!!!''. haha i didn't really say it like that, but i let her know that she sure was missing out for not having you for a mom.
Normally, i try to focus a lot, not let my emotions get to me, but in this moment, thinking about you, mom, i almost cried, almost!, thinking about how great you are. thanks for everything, really everything, you have ever done for me, and what you mean to our family. i lovelove you.
Anyways, so yes, we went to a little town, it's actually part of our area, its called Nobsa. It's ''cute''. super small, basically just a couple houses, the cathedral, and a street of art stores. I'm really loving boyaca. They have a bunch of little towns and every town has their ''thing''. Next week a want to go to a different town that is famous for making soccerballs made out of pure cow hyde with the hair and everything. SWEET! and it's been persevered in the orginal colonial form. Haha, before the change one of the sisters that was in my district before and who is know in my district was telling her companion that ''Elder Adams is super cool, he likes to visit and do all the touristy things, like us...'' hahaha! how lame am I!
Yes there are changes this next week. i'll keep you posted. most likely, i stay, my companion leaves. He already has like 6 months here. i'm down with that.
Were working on improving the ward. There is talk that the stake might change to a district if it stays the way it is. We did have a pretty cool activity friday, a costume party! were were able to bring about 5 investigators, they seemed to like it! hope they can come this next week.
I want to fill this next change full of activities, to wake up this ward to realize how great it is to be a Mormon. I'm praying to have a companion that will help me wake this ward up! I'm thinking soccer tornaments, i'll thinking family reunion styled olympics, egg tosses and all! If you got any ideas send em my way!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALIANA! I understand, i've missed your ownly two birthday parties, but i promise i'll be there for the next one!
I love you all! but today, i love my mom more!!!!
e. adams
p.s. yes i got your package. the burt's bees wax is doing wonders! thanks !!!
also, their are always missionaries that want hymnals in english. maybe you could look in to see how much they are, you k now for a good christmas gift!!
i'd like to apoligize if i've already started off my letter biased, but I soooo do love my mom!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I won't go off on old age jokes like i did with dad, cause we all know your a little more sensative. nevertheless, i'm so glad that you had a killer birthday party and recieved two elder adams-approved gifts, a new camera and a mac product. we're so alike.
Today, we went to a little town that's known for their arts and crafts, one of the sisters bought a doll at one store, and then later saw a different one that she wish she would have bought instead, i quickly told her ''Well, if you had my mom, for a mom, you wouldn't had done that.'' haha. i told her, ''you got shop for the best deals before you buy, duh!!!''. haha i didn't really say it like that, but i let her know that she sure was missing out for not having you for a mom.
Normally, i try to focus a lot, not let my emotions get to me, but in this moment, thinking about you, mom, i almost cried, almost!, thinking about how great you are. thanks for everything, really everything, you have ever done for me, and what you mean to our family. i lovelove you.
Anyways, so yes, we went to a little town, it's actually part of our area, its called Nobsa. It's ''cute''. super small, basically just a couple houses, the cathedral, and a street of art stores. I'm really loving boyaca. They have a bunch of little towns and every town has their ''thing''. Next week a want to go to a different town that is famous for making soccerballs made out of pure cow hyde with the hair and everything. SWEET! and it's been persevered in the orginal colonial form. Haha, before the change one of the sisters that was in my district before and who is know in my district was telling her companion that ''Elder Adams is super cool, he likes to visit and do all the touristy things, like us...'' hahaha! how lame am I!
Yes there are changes this next week. i'll keep you posted. most likely, i stay, my companion leaves. He already has like 6 months here. i'm down with that.
Were working on improving the ward. There is talk that the stake might change to a district if it stays the way it is. We did have a pretty cool activity friday, a costume party! were were able to bring about 5 investigators, they seemed to like it! hope they can come this next week.
I want to fill this next change full of activities, to wake up this ward to realize how great it is to be a Mormon. I'm praying to have a companion that will help me wake this ward up! I'm thinking soccer tornaments, i'll thinking family reunion styled olympics, egg tosses and all! If you got any ideas send em my way!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALIANA! I understand, i've missed your ownly two birthday parties, but i promise i'll be there for the next one!
I love you all! but today, i love my mom more!!!!
e. adams
p.s. yes i got your package. the burt's bees wax is doing wonders! thanks !!!
also, their are always missionaries that want hymnals in english. maybe you could look in to see how much they are, you k now for a good christmas gift!!
Monday, November 1, 2010
A visit from the Prophet!
Mi familia,
buenas tardes. I loved loved loved seeing the pictures of the kids (as they are referred to). Seeing Aliana blew my mind. She's huge! Liz = Jess. identical. Out of all my years in my persuits for the best costume, I never was a gorilla. This Preston guy always has me beat.
And yes. They do celebrate halloween here in colombia. It's not as big And they don't give away near as much candy, nevertheless it was cool to see the little kid's costumes. One of the biggest reasons why it's less celebrated here is because latin america is very, umm, I forgot the word, ( you know when someone believes you can't open an umbella indoors, or walk under a ladder, or break a window because its bad luck, feel free to implement said word. oh gosh my english. horrible.) Anyways, so they believe alot in witchcraft and bad spirits. I've heard more about witches in the past three months then I had in my whole life. So for fear of that they focus more on that conatation of halloween than kids going crazy for candy. I've had to battle to protect my beloved holidays reputation here.
Today we went and played some more football. Then after the sisters complaining that we don't ever do anything as a district, i decided i was going to put that spegetti sauce to good use that mom sent us and make some good ol´ spegetti. It went well. super good. THANKS MOM! As you will see from attached pictures, i'm trying to keep my culinary skills thriving. Here they've started calling me Elder ´´Wolfgang Puck´´ Adams. Not really, just wish.
This sunday was the best---They had a stake (country) conference for all of colombia. They sent out flyers saying that an apostle was probably going to be in the broadcast. Turned out 4 general authorities were there, one of which was elder Richard g. Scott, and Pres. Monson!!! Elder Scott speaks spanish perfectly, impressive (fun fact--- elder Scott was the mission president of elder Cristofferson). As for Pres. Monson he had a translater. elder Scott talked to the youth, using the best examples. One that he applied to missionaries is that those that decide not to serve missions are like birds that never decided to leave the nest and fly, never being able to reach their given potential. Revelation was truly manifested through the prophet of the Lord as he basically addressed all the problems in OUR ward here. He talked a lot about the duty of home and visiting teachers, of the need to visit the less active members of the church, mixed with what I worte about last week, being the power to save souls through the power of charity. he quoted Spencer W. Kimball ´´If we do not do our duty ..., then I am convinced that God will hold us responsible for the people we might have saved had we done our duty.” He was very clear. He talked about a letter he had recieved from a member less active. This memeber had written that he wanted to come back, but he just didn't have the courage to do it alone. That he just needed someone to extend a hand to pull him back in.
Speaking of which, Grandma and Grandpa sent me this today. About a success story of a soul they tried to bring back to the fold...
´´ Don (Burhham, the mission president of grandma, and grandpa)
Hello from the Northwest! I was down in Utah several weeks ago and had plans to call you, but with various family pulls, I ran out of time to contact several people I had in my plans. Someday.
I just thought you might like to hear, and perhaps pass along to the Snows, a story that has just popped up in our Stake.
Several years ago the Snows contacted a less active sister named Jewell Delatore. After a few visits from the Snows and after giving her a Book of Mormon, because she did not have one and had not been to Church for many years, she told them she wanted nothing more to do with the Church. She had her name removed.
A few weeks ago, after feeling down and even suicidal for quite some time, she began to pray. As she did this, she felt prompted to find the Book of Mormon she had been given. When she did, she read the testimony the Snows had placed in the book at the beginning. She immediately felt the Spirit, felt like she needed to come back, and she has come to Church (Rose Hill Ward) the past two Sundays. Last night the Bishop met with her to begin the process of getting her re-baptized and re-instated.
We can count the seeds in a one apple, but cannot count the apples from a single seed. Please convey our thanks to the Snows for the fruits of their labors, which continue to occur long after their visible service.
Jeff ´´
I loved it. There are people just waiting to be rescued. After returning to the house sunday night I started looking at the lyrics to priesthood songs... I started to read ´Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy'. I don't remember singing it at home. But I basically found the essence of Pres. Monson's talk in the third verse...
''Trim your feeble lamp, my brother, some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Trying now to make the harbor, some poor sailor may be lost.
or Some poor struggling, sinking sailor you may rescue, you may save.''
We're working on this here in Sogamoso, Colombia. I plead you, my family, that you be true friends of your assigned families, brothers and sisters, to visit.
I love you all so much.
e. adams
mom and dad,
I would like to know how it goes in the numbers that attend church now that you have changed to 8 o clock, if it lowers a little or a lot. Here it's the excuse the members use to not go to church.
Ha, dad i do like subaru´s..... haha, especially when theyre hatchback!!
Mom, pre happy birthday!!!! I hope it's the best one yet. just remember that in my picture that I show people, almost never people distinguish you as my mom, they say ´´que joven!!! (how young!)´´. I love you !
buenas tardes. I loved loved loved seeing the pictures of the kids (as they are referred to). Seeing Aliana blew my mind. She's huge! Liz = Jess. identical. Out of all my years in my persuits for the best costume, I never was a gorilla. This Preston guy always has me beat.
And yes. They do celebrate halloween here in colombia. It's not as big And they don't give away near as much candy, nevertheless it was cool to see the little kid's costumes. One of the biggest reasons why it's less celebrated here is because latin america is very, umm, I forgot the word, ( you know when someone believes you can't open an umbella indoors, or walk under a ladder, or break a window because its bad luck, feel free to implement said word. oh gosh my english. horrible.) Anyways, so they believe alot in witchcraft and bad spirits. I've heard more about witches in the past three months then I had in my whole life. So for fear of that they focus more on that conatation of halloween than kids going crazy for candy. I've had to battle to protect my beloved holidays reputation here.
Today we went and played some more football. Then after the sisters complaining that we don't ever do anything as a district, i decided i was going to put that spegetti sauce to good use that mom sent us and make some good ol´ spegetti. It went well. super good. THANKS MOM! As you will see from attached pictures, i'm trying to keep my culinary skills thriving. Here they've started calling me Elder ´´Wolfgang Puck´´ Adams. Not really, just wish.
This sunday was the best---They had a stake (country) conference for all of colombia. They sent out flyers saying that an apostle was probably going to be in the broadcast. Turned out 4 general authorities were there, one of which was elder Richard g. Scott, and Pres. Monson!!! Elder Scott speaks spanish perfectly, impressive (fun fact--- elder Scott was the mission president of elder Cristofferson). As for Pres. Monson he had a translater. elder Scott talked to the youth, using the best examples. One that he applied to missionaries is that those that decide not to serve missions are like birds that never decided to leave the nest and fly, never being able to reach their given potential. Revelation was truly manifested through the prophet of the Lord as he basically addressed all the problems in OUR ward here. He talked a lot about the duty of home and visiting teachers, of the need to visit the less active members of the church, mixed with what I worte about last week, being the power to save souls through the power of charity. he quoted Spencer W. Kimball ´´If we do not do our duty ..., then I am convinced that God will hold us responsible for the people we might have saved had we done our duty.” He was very clear. He talked about a letter he had recieved from a member less active. This memeber had written that he wanted to come back, but he just didn't have the courage to do it alone. That he just needed someone to extend a hand to pull him back in.
Speaking of which, Grandma and Grandpa sent me this today. About a success story of a soul they tried to bring back to the fold...
´´ Don (Burhham, the mission president of grandma, and grandpa)
Hello from the Northwest! I was down in Utah several weeks ago and had plans to call you, but with various family pulls, I ran out of time to contact several people I had in my plans. Someday.
I just thought you might like to hear, and perhaps pass along to the Snows, a story that has just popped up in our Stake.
Several years ago the Snows contacted a less active sister named Jewell Delatore. After a few visits from the Snows and after giving her a Book of Mormon, because she did not have one and had not been to Church for many years, she told them she wanted nothing more to do with the Church. She had her name removed.
A few weeks ago, after feeling down and even suicidal for quite some time, she began to pray. As she did this, she felt prompted to find the Book of Mormon she had been given. When she did, she read the testimony the Snows had placed in the book at the beginning. She immediately felt the Spirit, felt like she needed to come back, and she has come to Church (Rose Hill Ward) the past two Sundays. Last night the Bishop met with her to begin the process of getting her re-baptized and re-instated.
We can count the seeds in a one apple, but cannot count the apples from a single seed. Please convey our thanks to the Snows for the fruits of their labors, which continue to occur long after their visible service.
Jeff ´´
I loved it. There are people just waiting to be rescued. After returning to the house sunday night I started looking at the lyrics to priesthood songs... I started to read ´Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy'. I don't remember singing it at home. But I basically found the essence of Pres. Monson's talk in the third verse...
''Trim your feeble lamp, my brother, some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Trying now to make the harbor, some poor sailor may be lost.
or Some poor struggling, sinking sailor you may rescue, you may save.''
We're working on this here in Sogamoso, Colombia. I plead you, my family, that you be true friends of your assigned families, brothers and sisters, to visit.
I love you all so much.
e. adams
mom and dad,
I would like to know how it goes in the numbers that attend church now that you have changed to 8 o clock, if it lowers a little or a lot. Here it's the excuse the members use to not go to church.
Ha, dad i do like subaru´s..... haha, especially when theyre hatchback!!
Mom, pre happy birthday!!!! I hope it's the best one yet. just remember that in my picture that I show people, almost never people distinguish you as my mom, they say ´´que joven!!! (how young!)´´. I love you !
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The Power of Charity
mi familia amada,
first things first. Yes we have investigators, just a few, but yes we have them. One of which was baptized three weeks ago. The same day that my favorite investigator in Faca was baptized, Sandra. The kid that got baptized here in Sogamoso is named Juan Pablo---he's the best, super smart, punctual, on the ball kid, he captures everything that we teach him, and i believe that soon, he'll know more than me. We have one other that is progressing alot, he's a soldier, we hope that he finds time this week so that we can put a goal for him to be baptized.
Yesterday i went to Bogota for a leader's conference. It was great. All of last week Presidente Hacking was in a Mission President conference in Peru, with a couple of general authorities learning how they can progress their missions. I believe i told you about these eight lessons from the church leaders given to us as missionaries to help us be more effective teachers. The first principle is, that it is required to set a baptismal date the first or second lesson. When I started learning about this new program i thought about the Scripture in D & C that says
''Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.''
In the conference elder Gonzalez stated that we just need to baptize more. The field has never been whiter and we just need to use these lessons with preach my gospel to baptize more. He said, activation is great, but we need to baptize more.
So yes, i was teaching a lot of in active members, but i'm ready and willing to ''baptize more''.
Its been work, working with four sister missionaries. they have a lot of ''needs''. There is one companionship that just cant get along. This week there was an ''almost'' emergency transfer. One of the sisters called me crying telling me that her companion is nuts and that she had to have a change. So the president called the other sister to come to Bogota, five hours away, to work things out. He, in the end, decided to send her back and have them work it out. So, it's going to be a fun next three weeks talking them out of asking for another transfer. haha also, they called me last week and told me they needed to change houses because they had maggots falling from the ceiling. I'm pretty sure they just left something rotting because they eventually stopped. The President in the conference told me it's just preparation for future years filled with women. ha.
This week we spent the night with other missionaries because we got home to late from Bogota. In the morning we went to play with an organization called The Moroni Foundation, its a center owned and ran by a member for the majority, less active member's kids who have fallen into drug and other addictions. They learn how to behave well, developed character, and overcome addictions, and if they want, learn more about the church. I talked with one of the kids that inspired me with his story of recognized repentance. He told me that through his last 17 months he's learned and changed a lot of things, but out of of this, he said the thing that he has enjoyed the most is realizing the patience and love his Father in Heaven has had with him, and how far he pushed him away, and where is now, he told me the joy is indescribable. He has plans to get baptized this next month, the 6th.
In this foundation the brother has seen maricles. He says that one of the kids he's helped is on the mission, one preparing, another went, came back, and is getting ready to get sealed in the temple. I've told you once that the biggest lie i've ever heard is that people don't change. Sometimes, that demon inside tells you that, as you watch people fall back into their old ways, or even with our selves as we try and progess but we seem to be paddling water.
But people do change. I watched as we played, {by the way i made three goals, one was a header. They started calling me ronaldiniho, haha. I'm thinking about goin pro after the mish}, i thought i would hear a swear word hear and there being accustomed to street soccer here in colombia, but nothing, i watched as they called their own penalties and never tried to call an out of bounds ball, in. They never lost their temper, as a matter of fact i think they all acted with better class then my own companion. And as i watched them play i looked at this brother, who founded it all, and he smiled, played, and laughed with them. I could see that he loved them. And in that moment i learned a great lesson. It's the pure love of Christ, charity, manifested through the acts of great people, that change people. I realized that it all comes down to love.
I started to think about Harry Potter. haha. If you remember, Harry Potter was saved from Voldemort because his mother protected him from the spell, Voldamort after failing to kill Harry, shriveled and almost died. It says that with all the power Voldemort had, was triumphed by the power of love.
Drugs and vices had changed these kids, in to a worthless state. Satan has power to change people though the sins of the world, but the power of God, which I felt today, which really just comes down to love, will always overcome the power of Satan. Virtue will always triumph over vice. The power of love, or in other words, the power of the atonement, can change and will continue to change bad men, good, and good men, better.
Each and everyone one of us has the power to change ourselves, and to help change others through the power of charity.
I saw miracles today.
I love you all.
e. adams
first things first. Yes we have investigators, just a few, but yes we have them. One of which was baptized three weeks ago. The same day that my favorite investigator in Faca was baptized, Sandra. The kid that got baptized here in Sogamoso is named Juan Pablo---he's the best, super smart, punctual, on the ball kid, he captures everything that we teach him, and i believe that soon, he'll know more than me. We have one other that is progressing alot, he's a soldier, we hope that he finds time this week so that we can put a goal for him to be baptized.
Yesterday i went to Bogota for a leader's conference. It was great. All of last week Presidente Hacking was in a Mission President conference in Peru, with a couple of general authorities learning how they can progress their missions. I believe i told you about these eight lessons from the church leaders given to us as missionaries to help us be more effective teachers. The first principle is, that it is required to set a baptismal date the first or second lesson. When I started learning about this new program i thought about the Scripture in D & C that says
''Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.''
In the conference elder Gonzalez stated that we just need to baptize more. The field has never been whiter and we just need to use these lessons with preach my gospel to baptize more. He said, activation is great, but we need to baptize more.
So yes, i was teaching a lot of in active members, but i'm ready and willing to ''baptize more''.
Its been work, working with four sister missionaries. they have a lot of ''needs''. There is one companionship that just cant get along. This week there was an ''almost'' emergency transfer. One of the sisters called me crying telling me that her companion is nuts and that she had to have a change. So the president called the other sister to come to Bogota, five hours away, to work things out. He, in the end, decided to send her back and have them work it out. So, it's going to be a fun next three weeks talking them out of asking for another transfer. haha also, they called me last week and told me they needed to change houses because they had maggots falling from the ceiling. I'm pretty sure they just left something rotting because they eventually stopped. The President in the conference told me it's just preparation for future years filled with women. ha.
This week we spent the night with other missionaries because we got home to late from Bogota. In the morning we went to play with an organization called The Moroni Foundation, its a center owned and ran by a member for the majority, less active member's kids who have fallen into drug and other addictions. They learn how to behave well, developed character, and overcome addictions, and if they want, learn more about the church. I talked with one of the kids that inspired me with his story of recognized repentance. He told me that through his last 17 months he's learned and changed a lot of things, but out of of this, he said the thing that he has enjoyed the most is realizing the patience and love his Father in Heaven has had with him, and how far he pushed him away, and where is now, he told me the joy is indescribable. He has plans to get baptized this next month, the 6th.
In this foundation the brother has seen maricles. He says that one of the kids he's helped is on the mission, one preparing, another went, came back, and is getting ready to get sealed in the temple. I've told you once that the biggest lie i've ever heard is that people don't change. Sometimes, that demon inside tells you that, as you watch people fall back into their old ways, or even with our selves as we try and progess but we seem to be paddling water.
But people do change. I watched as we played, {by the way i made three goals, one was a header. They started calling me ronaldiniho, haha. I'm thinking about goin pro after the mish}, i thought i would hear a swear word hear and there being accustomed to street soccer here in colombia, but nothing, i watched as they called their own penalties and never tried to call an out of bounds ball, in. They never lost their temper, as a matter of fact i think they all acted with better class then my own companion. And as i watched them play i looked at this brother, who founded it all, and he smiled, played, and laughed with them. I could see that he loved them. And in that moment i learned a great lesson. It's the pure love of Christ, charity, manifested through the acts of great people, that change people. I realized that it all comes down to love.
I started to think about Harry Potter. haha. If you remember, Harry Potter was saved from Voldemort because his mother protected him from the spell, Voldamort after failing to kill Harry, shriveled and almost died. It says that with all the power Voldemort had, was triumphed by the power of love.
Drugs and vices had changed these kids, in to a worthless state. Satan has power to change people though the sins of the world, but the power of God, which I felt today, which really just comes down to love, will always overcome the power of Satan. Virtue will always triumph over vice. The power of love, or in other words, the power of the atonement, can change and will continue to change bad men, good, and good men, better.
Each and everyone one of us has the power to change ourselves, and to help change others through the power of charity.
I saw miracles today.
I love you all.
e. adams
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Fuel your flame
Familia,
I had a great week.
Starting with today. We had a zone activity in which we went to a small town that many tourist go to and had a barbecue and went on some go carts---I love Colombia.
At the end of the go carts I just wanted to call myself speed racer. One of the sister missionaries asked me why I drive so nuts. I told her that it's because I live my life by one rule---no limits. hahaha, jus kiddin, but I dooo love go carts.
We then had a barbecue Colombian style. la carne asada, delicioso.
I learned a lesson as we worked with the firewood grill. We had cooked about 3/4 of the meat and then left to eat. when we went back to the grill it was dying and we had little wood left. The coals were about to go out but I went to work trying to get it started again blowing and fanning the coals, but i couldn't get it to start. Then a strong wind came and ignited the fire. We were able to cook a good share of the meat but eventually the fire burnt all the wood it had. We still had a good share of meat too cook. So we went and looked for some more things to burn. We took some of the ashes from the fireplace, and found a cardboard box to get it started. With the little heat left in the grill and the already burnt ashes and cardboard box we went to work getting it started again. This time with just raw effort fanning and fanning the fire. After fanning the fire for a good time we finally got it to start and we finished cooking the meat.
I see it like this (bare with me!)... We have many goals or missions in life. Some we finish with ease, others we start and about 3/4 of the way through we run out of fuel, wood, and energy. It happens for a variety of reasons, sometimes lack of diligence (leaving to eat before the job is done), lack of preparation (not stalking up enough wood), or sometimes uncontrollable circumstances. But the lesson is that we don't give up until we finish completely our honorable goals and missions.
Sometimes, as our flame starts to dim we will start fanning the flame desperately with little progress. If we follow diligently in the task, a Divine wind will come, and give us the needed push.
Other times we will have to use our minds, look for new ideas and think for ourselves just be creative, and even running around looking for scraps of wood. Then after doing all that we can do, and working the hardest we can with what we know, we can start the fire again.
There was one point when we had the new fuel there to burn, but just a little started flame. The sister of the house taught me that it was because we had put the uncooked wet, meat on and it wasn't letting the fire start. So we painfully took off all the meat that we wanted to eat, and started fanning the fire again. Almost instantly it started to burn, and burn well. We then placed the meat back on the grill and bam! quality steak.
Often, we have all the components of a project ready but the fire doesn't want to start. But we want to eat! Sometimes, we have to take a unwanted step back, work on the basics, and then add everything in at its given time.
Sunday i felt a little discouraged. I started reflecting. I know that I love this work, I understand the utmost importance in what i am doing, so why then was my heart lacking? I learned, that fires will always burn out if we leave them alone with out anything to burn. But if we fuel the flame with all that we can find, God we give us that push, and if we stay at it, we can keep the flame red.
I'm working to have the same flame that Alma had ----
“O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.“
I always want to feel this way. I'm going to study more to learn how Alma fueled his fire.
ha. I hope you understood my analogy.
I love you and i wish you success in all your worthy goals and tasks.
fuel your fire,
e. adams
I had a great week.
Starting with today. We had a zone activity in which we went to a small town that many tourist go to and had a barbecue and went on some go carts---I love Colombia.
At the end of the go carts I just wanted to call myself speed racer. One of the sister missionaries asked me why I drive so nuts. I told her that it's because I live my life by one rule---no limits. hahaha, jus kiddin, but I dooo love go carts.
We then had a barbecue Colombian style. la carne asada, delicioso.
I learned a lesson as we worked with the firewood grill. We had cooked about 3/4 of the meat and then left to eat. when we went back to the grill it was dying and we had little wood left. The coals were about to go out but I went to work trying to get it started again blowing and fanning the coals, but i couldn't get it to start. Then a strong wind came and ignited the fire. We were able to cook a good share of the meat but eventually the fire burnt all the wood it had. We still had a good share of meat too cook. So we went and looked for some more things to burn. We took some of the ashes from the fireplace, and found a cardboard box to get it started. With the little heat left in the grill and the already burnt ashes and cardboard box we went to work getting it started again. This time with just raw effort fanning and fanning the fire. After fanning the fire for a good time we finally got it to start and we finished cooking the meat.
I see it like this (bare with me!)... We have many goals or missions in life. Some we finish with ease, others we start and about 3/4 of the way through we run out of fuel, wood, and energy. It happens for a variety of reasons, sometimes lack of diligence (leaving to eat before the job is done), lack of preparation (not stalking up enough wood), or sometimes uncontrollable circumstances. But the lesson is that we don't give up until we finish completely our honorable goals and missions.
Sometimes, as our flame starts to dim we will start fanning the flame desperately with little progress. If we follow diligently in the task, a Divine wind will come, and give us the needed push.
Other times we will have to use our minds, look for new ideas and think for ourselves just be creative, and even running around looking for scraps of wood. Then after doing all that we can do, and working the hardest we can with what we know, we can start the fire again.
There was one point when we had the new fuel there to burn, but just a little started flame. The sister of the house taught me that it was because we had put the uncooked wet, meat on and it wasn't letting the fire start. So we painfully took off all the meat that we wanted to eat, and started fanning the fire again. Almost instantly it started to burn, and burn well. We then placed the meat back on the grill and bam! quality steak.
Often, we have all the components of a project ready but the fire doesn't want to start. But we want to eat! Sometimes, we have to take a unwanted step back, work on the basics, and then add everything in at its given time.
Sunday i felt a little discouraged. I started reflecting. I know that I love this work, I understand the utmost importance in what i am doing, so why then was my heart lacking? I learned, that fires will always burn out if we leave them alone with out anything to burn. But if we fuel the flame with all that we can find, God we give us that push, and if we stay at it, we can keep the flame red.
I'm working to have the same flame that Alma had ----
“O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.“
I always want to feel this way. I'm going to study more to learn how Alma fueled his fire.
ha. I hope you understood my analogy.
I love you and i wish you success in all your worthy goals and tasks.
fuel your fire,
e. adams
Monday, October 11, 2010
Blood toil tears and sweat
Sasulieto, the little town on the other side of the golden gate bridge? Love that place. I went there with my buds when we went to San Fran. The truth is in that trip i fell in love.
Oh San Fran, thy golden arches, thy beloved chowder and cable trains, when will we meet again?
As for things here in Sogamoso -- El Sol --- lovin it! My companion is the best. The first couple days were a little quiet and awkward but now he's loosened up and now i'm lovin it. I'm still trying my best to be good district leader. There are four sisters in my district. ha its been great.
The state of the sogamoso, el sol ward was shown this past sunday. only 60 people showed up, of about 500 listed members, resulting from a handful of reasons, the biggest for me is that they start at 8 in the morning. I noticed that the spirits are down and there are notable contentions between the members. But i couldnt stop thinking about zions camp as i sat in the elders quorum. I felt as though the Lord has put these trials upon their backs because he has great plans for them. Were going to do our best to animate them and help them to understand what Job knew, that ''when he hath tried [us], [we] shall come forth as gold.''
I thought also of what i had heard in a talk by elder holland, when winston churchill spoke to england as Nazi forces were gaining ground and hopes were grime...
''I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land, and air, with all our might and with all our strength that God can give us. . . .That is our policy. You ask, What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory--victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror; victory, however long and hard the road may be...''
a couple days latter he said...
''We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender...''
I wish I could be like winston leanord spencer churchill when I find myselves in difficult times in the mission. We and this ward just need to fight to keep it from drowning. Try and give our blood, toil, tears, and sweat and the greatest work known to man.
But there is light here, the bishops great and we have a new ward mission leader ready to work. We were able to visit a faithfull couple heading for their 80's struggling with their health. It was evident that they are getting close to their last lap. But I was amazed by their faith. Hermano Leon told us that he cannot go to bed without reading a chapter of the book of mormon, noo matter how tired or sick he is. I was sure as we sat amazed by their faith filled stories that they will be able to say like Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"
I'm sorry if too many of my words where other people's words. But they're just sooo good.
I love you all soo much!!
keep the faith!!!
e. adams
Oh San Fran, thy golden arches, thy beloved chowder and cable trains, when will we meet again?
As for things here in Sogamoso -- El Sol --- lovin it! My companion is the best. The first couple days were a little quiet and awkward but now he's loosened up and now i'm lovin it. I'm still trying my best to be good district leader. There are four sisters in my district. ha its been great.
The state of the sogamoso, el sol ward was shown this past sunday. only 60 people showed up, of about 500 listed members, resulting from a handful of reasons, the biggest for me is that they start at 8 in the morning. I noticed that the spirits are down and there are notable contentions between the members. But i couldnt stop thinking about zions camp as i sat in the elders quorum. I felt as though the Lord has put these trials upon their backs because he has great plans for them. Were going to do our best to animate them and help them to understand what Job knew, that ''when he hath tried [us], [we] shall come forth as gold.''
I thought also of what i had heard in a talk by elder holland, when winston churchill spoke to england as Nazi forces were gaining ground and hopes were grime...
''I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land, and air, with all our might and with all our strength that God can give us. . . .That is our policy. You ask, What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory--victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror; victory, however long and hard the road may be...''
a couple days latter he said...
''We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender...''
I wish I could be like winston leanord spencer churchill when I find myselves in difficult times in the mission. We and this ward just need to fight to keep it from drowning. Try and give our blood, toil, tears, and sweat and the greatest work known to man.
But there is light here, the bishops great and we have a new ward mission leader ready to work. We were able to visit a faithfull couple heading for their 80's struggling with their health. It was evident that they are getting close to their last lap. But I was amazed by their faith. Hermano Leon told us that he cannot go to bed without reading a chapter of the book of mormon, noo matter how tired or sick he is. I was sure as we sat amazed by their faith filled stories that they will be able to say like Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"
I'm sorry if too many of my words where other people's words. But they're just sooo good.
I love you all soo much!!
keep the faith!!!
e. adams
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Idaho of Colombia
querida familia mia,
Business first: I recieved my change last night, it was different than what they had told me, nevertheless, i'm pumped. I'm going to the department above where i am serving, about four hours away from bogota, called sogamoso, boyaca. boyaca, is like the idaho of colombia : too many potatoes. I'm going to be helping out a district of us and sister missionaries. ha always an adventure dealing with sister missionaries. I'll be with a peruvian that has like 7 months in the mission. it's going to be the best.
Yes. or better, Yes! i was able to watch all sessions of conference. We had to leave my beloved faca for a couple days, to hear the voice of the Lord through his servants ths prophets, in Bogota. Our chapel house just isn't equipped with a satellite.
We need conference more often, one because there the most revelation packed days of my year, and two, because my WHOLE family write me. I'll have to send a letter.
Can you believe i only have one left before i come home? woah.
Anyways I loved every last bit of conference. And was able to watch 3/5 of it in english. I love spanish, but alot is lost in translation, especially jokes. Ha, i always feel sorry for the translators when Pres. Monson talks, because he always says things he didn't have planned. There was a good three minutes when the prophet began to talk and the interpreters took turns translating off hand what he was saying. Also, i love words, especially their words, and it just doesn't have the eloquence in the quickly translated spanish. So i'm grateful to be able to know english to hear the words directly from the prophet of God in the language of the restoration.
I loved all your conference highlights. I too, as well as my brother, liked what Pres. Erying said.. ”You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn, to repent, and then go and do whatever He asks.”
That is faith. I believe that most of leave conference with the desire to be better, but what matters most is that we do whatever it takes to come closer to the Lord.
and like all others, i loved this line by Pres. Monson. “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.” His talk made me think of my own prayers, which for the Lord might sound something like---give me give me give me. I felt the need to express my gratitude to others, and above all to God.
I also loved when Elder Holland spoke about a elderly women who said ”I've never been a leader in anything in the Church, i guess i've only been a helper”
He followed by saying bless your soul sister. It made me think alot about this sunday night phone call of changes. Some with aspirations to be a sr. companion, a district leader, a zone leader, etc. And when they don't receive what they wanted, they began to look at who received what they wanted, and target and criticize them. And i realize, what does that position matter? This sister is so much better of then when we think were great for the things that we've accomplished or think we should accomplish.
During the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions, I had a surprise baptismal interview outside of my district. His name is Juan, he's 12 years old. In what i thought was going to be a very casual interview turned out to be the most powerful one yet.
Juan had lost his father a couple months ago, and the hope of the gospel had brought them to the missionaries. I asked Juan, why he wanted to get baptized, without a second's delay, he told me so that he can be sealed to his Dad and family. I was overwhelmed by the Spirit showing me the love that Juan had for his dad, and his dad for him. We talked about how maybe his dad had to leave this earth for a relatively short time so that they can be together forever. I left so thankful for the experience that our Heavenly Father had given me to feel literally the prophesy of Malachi in action...
and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.
What a blessing we have to have a sealed family of generations upon generations. I want to follow what it says on the tombstone of the mother of Pres. Erying, ” Please, no empty seats.”
i love you all. and i'm so grateful for all that you do and have done for me.
e. adams
Business first: I recieved my change last night, it was different than what they had told me, nevertheless, i'm pumped. I'm going to the department above where i am serving, about four hours away from bogota, called sogamoso, boyaca. boyaca, is like the idaho of colombia : too many potatoes. I'm going to be helping out a district of us and sister missionaries. ha always an adventure dealing with sister missionaries. I'll be with a peruvian that has like 7 months in the mission. it's going to be the best.
Yes. or better, Yes! i was able to watch all sessions of conference. We had to leave my beloved faca for a couple days, to hear the voice of the Lord through his servants ths prophets, in Bogota. Our chapel house just isn't equipped with a satellite.
We need conference more often, one because there the most revelation packed days of my year, and two, because my WHOLE family write me. I'll have to send a letter.
Can you believe i only have one left before i come home? woah.
Anyways I loved every last bit of conference. And was able to watch 3/5 of it in english. I love spanish, but alot is lost in translation, especially jokes. Ha, i always feel sorry for the translators when Pres. Monson talks, because he always says things he didn't have planned. There was a good three minutes when the prophet began to talk and the interpreters took turns translating off hand what he was saying. Also, i love words, especially their words, and it just doesn't have the eloquence in the quickly translated spanish. So i'm grateful to be able to know english to hear the words directly from the prophet of God in the language of the restoration.
I loved all your conference highlights. I too, as well as my brother, liked what Pres. Erying said.. ”You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn, to repent, and then go and do whatever He asks.”
That is faith. I believe that most of leave conference with the desire to be better, but what matters most is that we do whatever it takes to come closer to the Lord.
and like all others, i loved this line by Pres. Monson. “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.” His talk made me think of my own prayers, which for the Lord might sound something like---give me give me give me. I felt the need to express my gratitude to others, and above all to God.
I also loved when Elder Holland spoke about a elderly women who said ”I've never been a leader in anything in the Church, i guess i've only been a helper”
He followed by saying bless your soul sister. It made me think alot about this sunday night phone call of changes. Some with aspirations to be a sr. companion, a district leader, a zone leader, etc. And when they don't receive what they wanted, they began to look at who received what they wanted, and target and criticize them. And i realize, what does that position matter? This sister is so much better of then when we think were great for the things that we've accomplished or think we should accomplish.
During the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions, I had a surprise baptismal interview outside of my district. His name is Juan, he's 12 years old. In what i thought was going to be a very casual interview turned out to be the most powerful one yet.
Juan had lost his father a couple months ago, and the hope of the gospel had brought them to the missionaries. I asked Juan, why he wanted to get baptized, without a second's delay, he told me so that he can be sealed to his Dad and family. I was overwhelmed by the Spirit showing me the love that Juan had for his dad, and his dad for him. We talked about how maybe his dad had to leave this earth for a relatively short time so that they can be together forever. I left so thankful for the experience that our Heavenly Father had given me to feel literally the prophesy of Malachi in action...
and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.
What a blessing we have to have a sealed family of generations upon generations. I want to follow what it says on the tombstone of the mother of Pres. Erying, ” Please, no empty seats.”
i love you all. and i'm so grateful for all that you do and have done for me.
e. adams
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Nurturing Roots
Q'hubo!
So yeah, we had two almost-all-day zone conferences monday and tuesday, and today, prepration day. Ha, we went to that theme park, salitre magico, again! so i'd send you pictures but i think i'd bore myself. just imagine going to a lame carnaval three times in 6 months and you know exactly what it feels like.
Yes, we have changes this coming week, and i have reason to believe that im headin' on out. If i had my druthers (yes i learned that phrase from grandpa) I'd like to go some where a little bit warmer. I hear cucuta is red like arizona, and hot like arizona, that'd be sweet. So you'll just have to wait till monday to here the startling news.
As of recently i've had the ocassional feeling that I repeat things that I've said in previous letters. Am I running out of material? uh oh. I bet my letters will just get shorter as my time dwindles by in the mission, so by my last letter home, i'll have NOTHING to say. just kidding. I'll try to keep it comin' strong.
In the training the assistants talk for a bit about conversion in the mission, they said it worried them why so many returned missionaries go in active. They based their training on the fact that missionaries often have their roots in the wrong place, or focused on the wrong things, such as numbers, position, etc, but said roots should be Jesus Christ and his atonement, The Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith.
I really liked what they were saying, and took note of it. President Hacking has said that 25% of missionaries go inactive within a year. But i feel as though, after pondering, and talking with my companion that it's more than that. It reminded me of something that I read Elder Nelson mention about the childern's song "I Am a Child of God".
He mention that, "when lyricist Naomi W. Randall first composed the words to this hymn, they read, "Teach me all that I must know, to live with him some day." Before he became President of the Church, President Spencer W. Kimball suggested that the word "know" be changed to "do." President Kimball, explaining why he wanted the change, and said, "To know isn't enough. The devils know and tremble; the devils know everything. We have to do something".
It made me think, even if we have good roots, that doesn't mean they are going to stay that way if we don't do something to keep them rich. It made me think about how Alma talked about that seed of faith that we have to nuture until it gives fruit, and then we have to keep nuturing it so it doesn't dry up. Well I don't really remember the words in english, but you get what I'm saying. We all have to keep nuturing our roots, by doing things, like reading the scriptures daily, going to church, praying, and serving others, or just living the Gospel. I thought how even if a redwood never recieved rain or sun, that even in its emenseness, its roots would dry up and it'd fall.
I believe it applies to everyone, if we don't nuture our tree, no matter how big or small, when the storms of life come, it just won't have the strong roots that it needs. So I invite you, my family, to nuture your roots, and make sure that they are in a sure place.
I love you all. I hope you know we have the best family in the world!
e. adams
So yeah, we had two almost-all-day zone conferences monday and tuesday, and today, prepration day. Ha, we went to that theme park, salitre magico, again! so i'd send you pictures but i think i'd bore myself. just imagine going to a lame carnaval three times in 6 months and you know exactly what it feels like.
Yes, we have changes this coming week, and i have reason to believe that im headin' on out. If i had my druthers (yes i learned that phrase from grandpa) I'd like to go some where a little bit warmer. I hear cucuta is red like arizona, and hot like arizona, that'd be sweet. So you'll just have to wait till monday to here the startling news.
As of recently i've had the ocassional feeling that I repeat things that I've said in previous letters. Am I running out of material? uh oh. I bet my letters will just get shorter as my time dwindles by in the mission, so by my last letter home, i'll have NOTHING to say. just kidding. I'll try to keep it comin' strong.
In the training the assistants talk for a bit about conversion in the mission, they said it worried them why so many returned missionaries go in active. They based their training on the fact that missionaries often have their roots in the wrong place, or focused on the wrong things, such as numbers, position, etc, but said roots should be Jesus Christ and his atonement, The Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith.
I really liked what they were saying, and took note of it. President Hacking has said that 25% of missionaries go inactive within a year. But i feel as though, after pondering, and talking with my companion that it's more than that. It reminded me of something that I read Elder Nelson mention about the childern's song "I Am a Child of God".
He mention that, "when lyricist Naomi W. Randall first composed the words to this hymn, they read, "Teach me all that I must know, to live with him some day." Before he became President of the Church, President Spencer W. Kimball suggested that the word "know" be changed to "do." President Kimball, explaining why he wanted the change, and said, "To know isn't enough. The devils know and tremble; the devils know everything. We have to do something".
It made me think, even if we have good roots, that doesn't mean they are going to stay that way if we don't do something to keep them rich. It made me think about how Alma talked about that seed of faith that we have to nuture until it gives fruit, and then we have to keep nuturing it so it doesn't dry up. Well I don't really remember the words in english, but you get what I'm saying. We all have to keep nuturing our roots, by doing things, like reading the scriptures daily, going to church, praying, and serving others, or just living the Gospel. I thought how even if a redwood never recieved rain or sun, that even in its emenseness, its roots would dry up and it'd fall.
I believe it applies to everyone, if we don't nuture our tree, no matter how big or small, when the storms of life come, it just won't have the strong roots that it needs. So I invite you, my family, to nuture your roots, and make sure that they are in a sure place.
I love you all. I hope you know we have the best family in the world!
e. adams
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wonderful Counselor
Elder Hathaway was blastin' one of Amy Grant's Christmas albums, and her rockin 80's synth version of 'Emmanuel' came on. My first thought: MOM!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Wonderful, Counselor!
He's the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One!
I believe if we put all of Mom's Christmas on the computer it'd fill an 80 gig ipod. Mom, two more months and you will be whole once again, in ''the most wonderful time, of the year'' so says Amy Grant.
Right now were working on getting two family's married and baptized. Following the norm, the families are in what is called a Union Libre, or Free Union, which means they are not living the Law of Chastity. I'm pretty sure I'm going to come back to Colombia after the mission to be a Family Lawyer, because after helping six families get married, I've become more familiar with the in's and out's of the horribly organized system than any foreigner should ever know. Ha, the first miracle was when a birth certificate which was supposedly burnt, arrived here in Faca. The next challenge is of one our investigators who has no idea where he was registered, or his mom, and no one wants to tell us either... Welp, just gotta confide in the promise in matthew 19:26
'with God, all things are possible.'
Nevertheless, this man who doesn't know where he was registered is the best. His name is Jose Enrique. The bishop a couple weeks ago gave us a number and said 'hey, this guy wants to get baptized. here's his number and direction.' GOLDEN! Turns out about two weeks before he was release from prison. He was convicted to serve 11 years for raping his daughter. The Police doing what police do, they got him to plead guilty for something he didn't do. But three years into the sentence he was found innocent and was released. But 8 months before we found him, he got to know the church though an excommunicated prison mate, who's brother sends him materials from the church, such as triple combinations, bibles, liahonas, seminary manuals, hymnals, and so forth. And so every Sunday in the prison they would have their make shift sacrament meetings, even fast and testimony meetings. When we asked him if he had a book of mormon, he pulled out his triple combination, lds bible, and hymnal---best part---he had made covers for them all out of the prison uniform.
So we learn of the perfectness of God's plan, and how sometimes we have to suffer injustice, to fulfill the grand purposes of God. Maybe that would have been the only place that Jose Enrique would have accepted the gospel. And now he's on fire. He's willing to do anything to be baptized.
Congrats Dad on the big deal. I love the lesson on planning from that, 200 hours. my district has been pretty lazy when it comes to planning, but after we've done everything we can, when our backs are up against the wall, that's when the divine help comes. President Lee said to President Erying some time ago ''If you want revelation, do your homework.''
I love you all sooo much.
e. adams
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Wonderful, Counselor!
He's the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One!
I believe if we put all of Mom's Christmas on the computer it'd fill an 80 gig ipod. Mom, two more months and you will be whole once again, in ''the most wonderful time, of the year'' so says Amy Grant.
Right now were working on getting two family's married and baptized. Following the norm, the families are in what is called a Union Libre, or Free Union, which means they are not living the Law of Chastity. I'm pretty sure I'm going to come back to Colombia after the mission to be a Family Lawyer, because after helping six families get married, I've become more familiar with the in's and out's of the horribly organized system than any foreigner should ever know. Ha, the first miracle was when a birth certificate which was supposedly burnt, arrived here in Faca. The next challenge is of one our investigators who has no idea where he was registered, or his mom, and no one wants to tell us either... Welp, just gotta confide in the promise in matthew 19:26
'with God, all things are possible.'
Nevertheless, this man who doesn't know where he was registered is the best. His name is Jose Enrique. The bishop a couple weeks ago gave us a number and said 'hey, this guy wants to get baptized. here's his number and direction.' GOLDEN! Turns out about two weeks before he was release from prison. He was convicted to serve 11 years for raping his daughter. The Police doing what police do, they got him to plead guilty for something he didn't do. But three years into the sentence he was found innocent and was released. But 8 months before we found him, he got to know the church though an excommunicated prison mate, who's brother sends him materials from the church, such as triple combinations, bibles, liahonas, seminary manuals, hymnals, and so forth. And so every Sunday in the prison they would have their make shift sacrament meetings, even fast and testimony meetings. When we asked him if he had a book of mormon, he pulled out his triple combination, lds bible, and hymnal---best part---he had made covers for them all out of the prison uniform.
So we learn of the perfectness of God's plan, and how sometimes we have to suffer injustice, to fulfill the grand purposes of God. Maybe that would have been the only place that Jose Enrique would have accepted the gospel. And now he's on fire. He's willing to do anything to be baptized.
Congrats Dad on the big deal. I love the lesson on planning from that, 200 hours. my district has been pretty lazy when it comes to planning, but after we've done everything we can, when our backs are up against the wall, that's when the divine help comes. President Lee said to President Erying some time ago ''If you want revelation, do your homework.''
I love you all sooo much.
e. adams
Monday, September 13, 2010
Pictures are worth a 1000 or less words
You'll have to forgive me, i used all my time writing the essays. But hey! they say a picture's worth a thousand words!! so i'll send a couple! perdon perdon!!
Today i made new friends on my adventure into the wilderness with E. Ramirez in the back of our house.
pull over! no it's a cardigan but thanks for noticing!
BTW there's two more elders here in Faca = double the fun.
My next letter will be a giant.
I love you all.
e. adams
p.s. if you could send me collar stays that'd rock. As you can tell by the pictures there a bit floppy. i bet you could send them in a envelope??
Today i made new friends on my adventure into the wilderness with E. Ramirez in the back of our house.
pull over! no it's a cardigan but thanks for noticing!
BTW there's two more elders here in Faca = double the fun.
My next letter will be a giant.
I love you all.
e. adams
p.s. if you could send me collar stays that'd rock. As you can tell by the pictures there a bit floppy. i bet you could send them in a envelope??
Monday, September 6, 2010
Factativa is now a Ward
Still keepin it real here with my favorite paraguyan companion.
The Facatativa branch is now offically The Facatativa ward. Movin' on up. It was super cool to be here for it. I wanted to stay long enough to be able to see the magic. From the normal 85 persons that attend, this sunday bumped up to a big 168. What's up! There's talk about looking for land this week here in faca, and a possible two more missionaries to share the work. Right now our area is on fire! we went from a zero baptismal dates to 7. Were finding people like nuts. This sunday we recieved three references of people that want to get baptized. sooo goood!
The transition to a ward was filled with the Spirit. this change has been really important here. They made invitations, worked all week passing them out to the less actives. I love this branch, i mean ward.
The relief society went saturday to deep clean the chapelhouse we use. and our investigator Sandra was there on time at 930 ready to work. I've never seen a investigator sooo pumped and excited to be part of the Church. She in little less then a month feels as though the Church is already hers. She reffers to the Relief society in US and WE. she's the best. She tells everyone that everything we've taughter her ´seems perfect`. And that to her, the idea of baptism is the ´best thing` that could happen. With the little she has learned, tries to get all her family to live the gospel. Her daughter says shes nuts because she reads the book of mormon everyday for at least an hour. She tells us she knows its true because when she starts to read it she can't stop. And her husband is a maricle in his self. He's a former paramilitar (anti government forces). He gave him self in and now is sported by the goverment. When we first got there, he didn't even want to leave to talk with us, and now with the help of the Lord and a softened heart by the power of his wife, he know has a baptismal date for the 25 with his whole family. The last time we came he invited his neighbors to listen.
I love this work.
i love you all.
e. adams
The Facatativa branch is now offically The Facatativa ward. Movin' on up. It was super cool to be here for it. I wanted to stay long enough to be able to see the magic. From the normal 85 persons that attend, this sunday bumped up to a big 168. What's up! There's talk about looking for land this week here in faca, and a possible two more missionaries to share the work. Right now our area is on fire! we went from a zero baptismal dates to 7. Were finding people like nuts. This sunday we recieved three references of people that want to get baptized. sooo goood!
The transition to a ward was filled with the Spirit. this change has been really important here. They made invitations, worked all week passing them out to the less actives. I love this branch, i mean ward.
The relief society went saturday to deep clean the chapelhouse we use. and our investigator Sandra was there on time at 930 ready to work. I've never seen a investigator sooo pumped and excited to be part of the Church. She in little less then a month feels as though the Church is already hers. She reffers to the Relief society in US and WE. she's the best. She tells everyone that everything we've taughter her ´seems perfect`. And that to her, the idea of baptism is the ´best thing` that could happen. With the little she has learned, tries to get all her family to live the gospel. Her daughter says shes nuts because she reads the book of mormon everyday for at least an hour. She tells us she knows its true because when she starts to read it she can't stop. And her husband is a maricle in his self. He's a former paramilitar (anti government forces). He gave him self in and now is sported by the goverment. When we first got there, he didn't even want to leave to talk with us, and now with the help of the Lord and a softened heart by the power of his wife, he know has a baptismal date for the 25 with his whole family. The last time we came he invited his neighbors to listen.
I love this work.
i love you all.
e. adams
Monday, August 30, 2010
Miracles can happen
First,
Mom and Dad,
I love you even with all your health problems. haha. i'm sure it has to do with the fact that Dad is 50 and mom is getting there. haha. Maybe I'm the only one that thinks my age jokes are funny, nevertheless, you can be glad that at least it makes me chuckle. I hope you guys are getting better, mom probably should never bowl again. But mom you can rejoice in the fact that you'll have a rockin knee in the resurection!
Mike and Steph,
You sound so hip and professional. I felt cool just going to San Fran, and you guys live it! What's up! Stay cool dudes.
Jess and Devon,
If all you gave me was nieces and a nephew that make me laugh out loud in a colombian interent cafe, it'd be enough. But you give me so much more. Give them hugs, and give each other a huge, for being the best!
Josh,
Mr. Joe ``too`` Cool. I'm jealous about how many you friends you probably have. And a double thumbs up for thinking about inviting friends to mutual. I can't remember if i ever did that. Youre cooler than me! And that's impressive cause I'm wayyyy cool, super cool. (just kidding!!! in the fact that i'm not really cool, but i'll stand by the fact that you rock my socks.)
I felt like everyone needed indiduval shout outs.
Colombia is the best, even if there system of marriage is jacked up. We're working on a getting a family married. I've been working the charm to get people to help us out in far off villages. Here some how, you have to get a copy of their birth certificate from the city they were born within a month from when they get married. Sometimes they never answer, sometimes you have to travel to said city to get it, and sometimes the place where the certificate exsist burns down. haha I now understand why no ones gets married here.
But we have faith that miracles will happen.
I'm sorry if this letter makes no sense. My fingers are a blazzin with the close to no time that i have left.
I love you all sooooooo much.
e. adams
Mom and Dad,
I love you even with all your health problems. haha. i'm sure it has to do with the fact that Dad is 50 and mom is getting there. haha. Maybe I'm the only one that thinks my age jokes are funny, nevertheless, you can be glad that at least it makes me chuckle. I hope you guys are getting better, mom probably should never bowl again. But mom you can rejoice in the fact that you'll have a rockin knee in the resurection!
Mike and Steph,
You sound so hip and professional. I felt cool just going to San Fran, and you guys live it! What's up! Stay cool dudes.
Jess and Devon,
If all you gave me was nieces and a nephew that make me laugh out loud in a colombian interent cafe, it'd be enough. But you give me so much more. Give them hugs, and give each other a huge, for being the best!
Josh,
Mr. Joe ``too`` Cool. I'm jealous about how many you friends you probably have. And a double thumbs up for thinking about inviting friends to mutual. I can't remember if i ever did that. Youre cooler than me! And that's impressive cause I'm wayyyy cool, super cool. (just kidding!!! in the fact that i'm not really cool, but i'll stand by the fact that you rock my socks.)
I felt like everyone needed indiduval shout outs.
Colombia is the best, even if there system of marriage is jacked up. We're working on a getting a family married. I've been working the charm to get people to help us out in far off villages. Here some how, you have to get a copy of their birth certificate from the city they were born within a month from when they get married. Sometimes they never answer, sometimes you have to travel to said city to get it, and sometimes the place where the certificate exsist burns down. haha I now understand why no ones gets married here.
But we have faith that miracles will happen.
I'm sorry if this letter makes no sense. My fingers are a blazzin with the close to no time that i have left.
I love you all sooooooo much.
e. adams
Monday, August 23, 2010
Stay Strong and obedient
Familia,
Dad was right, this week is transfers. But nothin' changed. Except the emergency transfer earlier this week that i will address further along. But yeah, i'll be staying here with Elder Ramirez. love him. He's told me a little about his life over the past 6 weeks. I've come to respect him bastante. He's one of 8 kids. When he was younger his family lived in the forest, in a straw roofed house, without electricty or running water. His family little by little established themselves in better conditions. He told me his family bought their TV this past year. He has another brother serving in Venezuela. And he's full of ambition. He studies english more than any other missionary, here, if the missionaries finish an english program and take an exam at the end, BYU gives them a certificate. it's a great idea.
CONGRATS MIKE-BRAH! I love this news. The more and more i learn and watch, the more i understand that the Gopsel and it's blessings apply in every aspects of life. You had faith, to take the other job, even though you wanted the other.
Faith requires that we act. I tried teaching this to an investigator yesterday. but in the end, she hasn't developed this understanding of faith to make a dicision, to act, so that she can obey the law of chastity.
When i heard this Mike, the first thing that came to my mind was something that i heard said by Elder Jeffery R. Holland in the MTC. He said every good thing that has happened to him, has happened, because of his mission. (the second, was that `wow in 10 months im going to have to enter this so called real world` but we wont worry about that). I feel, maybe biasedly, that this is a direct blessing from your mission. I heard a talk, where the director of The Other Side of Heaven told a story, it fits...
----- Several years ago I had a very dramatic experience regarding trusting the Lord. I was backpacking with my 10-year-old son, two of his friends, and our faithful dog, Pluto, when we were hit by lightning.
We were hiking above timberline when a sudden storm blew in. We pitched our tent, and I put the boys inside their sleeping bags to keep them warm. I started fixing dinner on our little camp stove. Then, suddenly, I was gone.
Although I have no recollection of the lightning hitting me, the boys tell me that it blasted through our tent's roof and hit me square in the chest and that I flew backward and landed on the floor unconscious with my eyes open but rolled back into my head.
The bulk of the strike passed through my chest and into the dog sitting behind me, killing him. The rest of the lightning curled down my right arm and struck the boy seated next to me, then danced wickedly about the tent, burning holes in sleeping bags and striking the two other boys.
But I knew nothing about this. In my mind, at least, I ceased to exist.
After some time I became aware of myself again. I began to be able to hear, although I could not see or move any part of my body. As if from a great distance I could hear the three boys screaming. I heard my son cry out, "Dad, please don't die!" One of the boys leaned over and gave me a single puff of artificial respiration. The other promised God he would never do another bad thing in his entire life if Brother Davis would just wake up.
But I couldn't wake up. I could only lie there, helpless, wondering what in the world had happened to me.
Then I became aware of something else--a dark presence I can only describe as impending death. I felt myself starting to leave mortality and realized my only hope was divine intervention. I fought with every fiber of my being to call on Heavenly Father.
Then a most interesting thing happened. Before I could call on Father, He called on me. Through the unmistakably clear voice of the Spirit, He encouraged me with these simple words: "You served a valiant mission. Ask in confidence."
Heavenly Father knew I needed extra faith at that moment. He knew I had faith in Him but lacked faith in myself as a worthy recipient of the miracle I so desperately needed. So he sent me that encouraging message: "You served a valiant mission. Ask in confidence."
I exerted every ounce of faith I had in a fervent, frenzied prayer. Heavenly Father responded by immediately freeing me from death's grip. I regained consciousness and the strength, several hours later, to hike off the mountain with my boy, his friends, and the body of our dog.
I do not tell you this story for the sake of mere drama, nor to boast about my personal missionary prowess. I assure you I was no more valiant than most missionaries. I tell you this story because of the significance of the Lord's choice of words to me: When my life literally hung in the balance, all that mattered were my two years of obscure service in the villages of Argentina. -----
It gives me motivation to stay strong. to stay obedient.
I'm super pumped for this transfer. I want it to the be best thus far. I know it can be. We have two familes with baptismal dates, and a so much work to be done. I heard rumors from varies sources earlier about a future transfer for me. But after talking with the president during the emergency transfer, I understood that there a lot of work still be done here in Faca.
BTW! my branch, is a soon to be ward! the 5th of septiembre it'll be offical. I'm pumped!
i love you all!
e. adams
Dad was right, this week is transfers. But nothin' changed. Except the emergency transfer earlier this week that i will address further along. But yeah, i'll be staying here with Elder Ramirez. love him. He's told me a little about his life over the past 6 weeks. I've come to respect him bastante. He's one of 8 kids. When he was younger his family lived in the forest, in a straw roofed house, without electricty or running water. His family little by little established themselves in better conditions. He told me his family bought their TV this past year. He has another brother serving in Venezuela. And he's full of ambition. He studies english more than any other missionary, here, if the missionaries finish an english program and take an exam at the end, BYU gives them a certificate. it's a great idea.
CONGRATS MIKE-BRAH! I love this news. The more and more i learn and watch, the more i understand that the Gopsel and it's blessings apply in every aspects of life. You had faith, to take the other job, even though you wanted the other.
Faith requires that we act. I tried teaching this to an investigator yesterday. but in the end, she hasn't developed this understanding of faith to make a dicision, to act, so that she can obey the law of chastity.
When i heard this Mike, the first thing that came to my mind was something that i heard said by Elder Jeffery R. Holland in the MTC. He said every good thing that has happened to him, has happened, because of his mission. (the second, was that `wow in 10 months im going to have to enter this so called real world` but we wont worry about that). I feel, maybe biasedly, that this is a direct blessing from your mission. I heard a talk, where the director of The Other Side of Heaven told a story, it fits...
----- Several years ago I had a very dramatic experience regarding trusting the Lord. I was backpacking with my 10-year-old son, two of his friends, and our faithful dog, Pluto, when we were hit by lightning.
We were hiking above timberline when a sudden storm blew in. We pitched our tent, and I put the boys inside their sleeping bags to keep them warm. I started fixing dinner on our little camp stove. Then, suddenly, I was gone.
Although I have no recollection of the lightning hitting me, the boys tell me that it blasted through our tent's roof and hit me square in the chest and that I flew backward and landed on the floor unconscious with my eyes open but rolled back into my head.
The bulk of the strike passed through my chest and into the dog sitting behind me, killing him. The rest of the lightning curled down my right arm and struck the boy seated next to me, then danced wickedly about the tent, burning holes in sleeping bags and striking the two other boys.
But I knew nothing about this. In my mind, at least, I ceased to exist.
After some time I became aware of myself again. I began to be able to hear, although I could not see or move any part of my body. As if from a great distance I could hear the three boys screaming. I heard my son cry out, "Dad, please don't die!" One of the boys leaned over and gave me a single puff of artificial respiration. The other promised God he would never do another bad thing in his entire life if Brother Davis would just wake up.
But I couldn't wake up. I could only lie there, helpless, wondering what in the world had happened to me.
Then I became aware of something else--a dark presence I can only describe as impending death. I felt myself starting to leave mortality and realized my only hope was divine intervention. I fought with every fiber of my being to call on Heavenly Father.
Then a most interesting thing happened. Before I could call on Father, He called on me. Through the unmistakably clear voice of the Spirit, He encouraged me with these simple words: "You served a valiant mission. Ask in confidence."
Heavenly Father knew I needed extra faith at that moment. He knew I had faith in Him but lacked faith in myself as a worthy recipient of the miracle I so desperately needed. So he sent me that encouraging message: "You served a valiant mission. Ask in confidence."
I exerted every ounce of faith I had in a fervent, frenzied prayer. Heavenly Father responded by immediately freeing me from death's grip. I regained consciousness and the strength, several hours later, to hike off the mountain with my boy, his friends, and the body of our dog.
I do not tell you this story for the sake of mere drama, nor to boast about my personal missionary prowess. I assure you I was no more valiant than most missionaries. I tell you this story because of the significance of the Lord's choice of words to me: When my life literally hung in the balance, all that mattered were my two years of obscure service in the villages of Argentina. -----
It gives me motivation to stay strong. to stay obedient.
I'm super pumped for this transfer. I want it to the be best thus far. I know it can be. We have two familes with baptismal dates, and a so much work to be done. I heard rumors from varies sources earlier about a future transfer for me. But after talking with the president during the emergency transfer, I understood that there a lot of work still be done here in Faca.
BTW! my branch, is a soon to be ward! the 5th of septiembre it'll be offical. I'm pumped!
i love you all!
e. adams
Monday, August 16, 2010
God gives us Success
I almost always send the president what i send you to guys, but i have to apolagize this time becuase it happened to be visa virsa, Presidente,
I received a great letter today from a convert from Campiña, Suba. The background: Her name is Adriana Velasquez, she's 25, we found her, or better said, she found us in the chapel one Sunday. She had listened to the missionaries some time ago in Barbosa studying in university.
She liked the church, but didn't see it as anything more then a very well organized religion. About 2 weeks before we talked, she moved her from Cucuta, where her family lives, to study to get her masters in electric engineering. Very smart. Anyways, so she invited us to her house, not to talk to her, but to help her sister fix her life up. When we stopped by, her sister Amaila wasn't there, but she still received us, and we talked for a little bit. She let us know that she understood that we were going to try and baptize her in two weeks, she said that might work with other people but not with me, I laughed and it just fueled my flame so that she knew what i know. (note--- like when Dad told me he didn't believe i would ever get my eagle scout. hA! did i show him! love you!)
We taught the Restoration. Ha, at one time when we were talking about prophets and she ´let us know´ that the flood of Noah didn't really happen. That she didn't believe in it, and with the wording that ´God promised never to do it again´ some how implemented him in a sin. We blew it off and followed with the lesson.
We got to the Joseph Smith story, i had the opportunity to recite The First Vision, and in that instant, a miracle happened; hearts were changed, the room was filled with the fire of the Spirit (which was a fullfillment of what Jeffery R. Holland said, in the MTC devotional that we were both at, that when you teach by the Spirit, it will result in you and and the investigator not wanting to be anywhere else but there in that moment), i cried, for the first time in my mission, and testimonies of everyone present were fortified. I believe it was the result of many factors---she was ready, the Spirit was willing, because we were being obedient, and maybe because i wanted it, so much. i think i wanted it more than anything. I wanted her, and us, to fill that testifying power of the truth of this---that Joseph, really saw God the Father and his Son. We asked her in this blaze of it all, how she felt, she replied ´´con ganas´´. We let her know how she could know, and we wrote the specific questions that she should ask her Father in Heaven that night, one of which being when she should get baptized. She did it. And when she woke up in the morning she went to read the Bible, she opened to a random page and read the exact page in Efesios we read the night before, she closed it and opened it again, randomly, and it opened to Amos 3. She found her answer and knew she needed to get baptized. She ended up having to leave town a week before he baptismal date and so she ended up really getting baptized in 2 weeks. she wrote me today...
´´
Buen día Elder Adams,
Le escribo para saludarle, y para compartirle mi alegria actual...
Mi hermana AMALIA se bautizo éste sábado 14 de agosto a las 7:00 pm en la Campiña
y mi Hermano junto con su esposa se bautizaron a las 8:00 pm del mismo día en Quinta bosh (Cúcuta),
Mi Máma desea bautizarse, pero decidio que esperaria a hacerlo con mi Papá, todo ha ocurrido muy rápido
y sólo deseo darle las gracias por las palabras compartidas y darle ánimos para que continue en la labor
misional sabiendo que van dejando gente con alegria y llenando corazones de esperanza.
Namaste...
translation ...
i'm writing to say hi, and share with you my happieness right now...
My sister, Amailia, was baptized this saturday the 14 of august at 7 in la Campiña, and my brother, together with his wife, were baptized at 800 pm the same day in Quinta bosh, Cucuta (our mission). My mom want's to get baptized, but decided that she would waite for my dad. Everything has happened super fast, and only want to thank you for the shared wards and encourage you so that you continue in the missonary work knowing that you go by leaving the people with joy and filling their hearts with hope..
I know that this couldn't have happened if this work wasn't real. I won't ever be able to deny the feelings i felt that night. I reflect on two quotes.
1. ´´What lies in our power to do. It lies in our power not to do.´´ Aristotle
2. ´´Nothing external to you has any power over you´´ Ralph Waldo Emerson.
I believe that God will give us success, and this edifying moments, if we just choose to do, and "not to do", the things necessary to have them.
I hope this is enough, because i don't have any more time!! I love you all. Tell josh to study hard. and give mike and steph a big luck hug from me for their new and coming exciting adventures.
I LOVE YOU ALL. you blow my mind with your awesome-ness.
e. adams
I received a great letter today from a convert from Campiña, Suba. The background: Her name is Adriana Velasquez, she's 25, we found her, or better said, she found us in the chapel one Sunday. She had listened to the missionaries some time ago in Barbosa studying in university.
She liked the church, but didn't see it as anything more then a very well organized religion. About 2 weeks before we talked, she moved her from Cucuta, where her family lives, to study to get her masters in electric engineering. Very smart. Anyways, so she invited us to her house, not to talk to her, but to help her sister fix her life up. When we stopped by, her sister Amaila wasn't there, but she still received us, and we talked for a little bit. She let us know that she understood that we were going to try and baptize her in two weeks, she said that might work with other people but not with me, I laughed and it just fueled my flame so that she knew what i know. (note--- like when Dad told me he didn't believe i would ever get my eagle scout. hA! did i show him! love you!)
We taught the Restoration. Ha, at one time when we were talking about prophets and she ´let us know´ that the flood of Noah didn't really happen. That she didn't believe in it, and with the wording that ´God promised never to do it again´ some how implemented him in a sin. We blew it off and followed with the lesson.
We got to the Joseph Smith story, i had the opportunity to recite The First Vision, and in that instant, a miracle happened; hearts were changed, the room was filled with the fire of the Spirit (which was a fullfillment of what Jeffery R. Holland said, in the MTC devotional that we were both at, that when you teach by the Spirit, it will result in you and and the investigator not wanting to be anywhere else but there in that moment), i cried, for the first time in my mission, and testimonies of everyone present were fortified. I believe it was the result of many factors---she was ready, the Spirit was willing, because we were being obedient, and maybe because i wanted it, so much. i think i wanted it more than anything. I wanted her, and us, to fill that testifying power of the truth of this---that Joseph, really saw God the Father and his Son. We asked her in this blaze of it all, how she felt, she replied ´´con ganas´´. We let her know how she could know, and we wrote the specific questions that she should ask her Father in Heaven that night, one of which being when she should get baptized. She did it. And when she woke up in the morning she went to read the Bible, she opened to a random page and read the exact page in Efesios we read the night before, she closed it and opened it again, randomly, and it opened to Amos 3. She found her answer and knew she needed to get baptized. She ended up having to leave town a week before he baptismal date and so she ended up really getting baptized in 2 weeks. she wrote me today...
´´
Buen día Elder Adams,
Le escribo para saludarle, y para compartirle mi alegria actual...
Mi hermana AMALIA se bautizo éste sábado 14 de agosto a las 7:00 pm en la Campiña
y mi Hermano junto con su esposa se bautizaron a las 8:00 pm del mismo día en Quinta bosh (Cúcuta),
Mi Máma desea bautizarse, pero decidio que esperaria a hacerlo con mi Papá, todo ha ocurrido muy rápido
y sólo deseo darle las gracias por las palabras compartidas y darle ánimos para que continue en la labor
misional sabiendo que van dejando gente con alegria y llenando corazones de esperanza.
Namaste...
translation ...
i'm writing to say hi, and share with you my happieness right now...
My sister, Amailia, was baptized this saturday the 14 of august at 7 in la Campiña, and my brother, together with his wife, were baptized at 800 pm the same day in Quinta bosh, Cucuta (our mission). My mom want's to get baptized, but decided that she would waite for my dad. Everything has happened super fast, and only want to thank you for the shared wards and encourage you so that you continue in the missonary work knowing that you go by leaving the people with joy and filling their hearts with hope..
I know that this couldn't have happened if this work wasn't real. I won't ever be able to deny the feelings i felt that night. I reflect on two quotes.
1. ´´What lies in our power to do. It lies in our power not to do.´´ Aristotle
2. ´´Nothing external to you has any power over you´´ Ralph Waldo Emerson.
I believe that God will give us success, and this edifying moments, if we just choose to do, and "not to do", the things necessary to have them.
I hope this is enough, because i don't have any more time!! I love you all. Tell josh to study hard. and give mike and steph a big luck hug from me for their new and coming exciting adventures.
I LOVE YOU ALL. you blow my mind with your awesome-ness.
e. adams
Monday, August 9, 2010
If you want to love them, serve them!
my mind churns as i think about what to write after just writing you two days ago... i'm sure i'll come up with something.
Today we went to Bogota (in case you were wondering, and Mom, i know you were, we live about 50 minutes away from Bogota by Bus, it cost about 3 dollars for the both of us. We can compare it to maricpoa to phoenix, but not 115 degrees with dirt. It's like an October Park City here. I still haven't sent you pictures of the house but we live at the foot of a mountain by a creek, or as they like to say in Utah, cre'ck. Fun Fact: I had a flash back of our Cedar Hills Park days when we would go to 'The Creek' in blow up tubes: the best!). Anyways we had a zone activity, played futbol. I love futbol. and watched a Christian movie called ''facing the giants'', it gave me a few laughs.
Mom, your days of reading e. bardnard and e. lee's blogs will come to and end next week. They're headin' home. It's weird to watch that group go home. When i got here they had less time than i have right now. nuts.
Friday i was able to go see the first family i baptized in Campiña. They told me they started their Temple Prep. classes. The best, full of joy.
Other joyfull momment--- Remember e. Huaman? My companion that sometimes gave me some headaches. He's still working as district leader and is training right now, and during the training meeting he gave some powerful testimony. Made my day/mission to watch him change so much. To see my prays and fasts really, really answered. I don't think any companion has drived me so crazy, but i don't think i've come to love any other companion as much as him. If you want to love someone. serve them.
Yesterday we had an appointment with a worried Mother. She has a 15 year old son that is caught up being, a 15 year old son. He doesn't like school. he loves his skateboard. he likes parties. and doesn't want to be away from him friends, ever. We lingered there, hoping to find him, and we did. We talked with him, shared stories of ''way-back-when'' we were 15. How i too liked to skateboard, video games, and sadly, would trade time with family for friends, and how i didn't, understand the importance of school. We talked to him, he realizes he needs to change, and said that he wants too. THe whole family wants to go to church. We hope to see them there. We let them know the only way out; is through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
It made me realize the headache i might have cause you, mom and dad. But i know, for myself, that people do, really, change.
i'm eternally greatful for your sacrifices and love that i feel.
BTW i stumbled upon the pictures of Grandma y Grandpa and the fam, in there wonder years. It caused me to think, a lot. Can't really describe it. But I one thing is clear: Grandpa, if you still have those killer ties, send them to me!!!
les amo,
e. adams
Today we went to Bogota (in case you were wondering, and Mom, i know you were, we live about 50 minutes away from Bogota by Bus, it cost about 3 dollars for the both of us. We can compare it to maricpoa to phoenix, but not 115 degrees with dirt. It's like an October Park City here. I still haven't sent you pictures of the house but we live at the foot of a mountain by a creek, or as they like to say in Utah, cre'ck. Fun Fact: I had a flash back of our Cedar Hills Park days when we would go to 'The Creek' in blow up tubes: the best!). Anyways we had a zone activity, played futbol. I love futbol. and watched a Christian movie called ''facing the giants'', it gave me a few laughs.
Mom, your days of reading e. bardnard and e. lee's blogs will come to and end next week. They're headin' home. It's weird to watch that group go home. When i got here they had less time than i have right now. nuts.
Friday i was able to go see the first family i baptized in Campiña. They told me they started their Temple Prep. classes. The best, full of joy.
Other joyfull momment--- Remember e. Huaman? My companion that sometimes gave me some headaches. He's still working as district leader and is training right now, and during the training meeting he gave some powerful testimony. Made my day/mission to watch him change so much. To see my prays and fasts really, really answered. I don't think any companion has drived me so crazy, but i don't think i've come to love any other companion as much as him. If you want to love someone. serve them.
Yesterday we had an appointment with a worried Mother. She has a 15 year old son that is caught up being, a 15 year old son. He doesn't like school. he loves his skateboard. he likes parties. and doesn't want to be away from him friends, ever. We lingered there, hoping to find him, and we did. We talked with him, shared stories of ''way-back-when'' we were 15. How i too liked to skateboard, video games, and sadly, would trade time with family for friends, and how i didn't, understand the importance of school. We talked to him, he realizes he needs to change, and said that he wants too. THe whole family wants to go to church. We hope to see them there. We let them know the only way out; is through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
It made me realize the headache i might have cause you, mom and dad. But i know, for myself, that people do, really, change.
i'm eternally greatful for your sacrifices and love that i feel.
BTW i stumbled upon the pictures of Grandma y Grandpa and the fam, in there wonder years. It caused me to think, a lot. Can't really describe it. But I one thing is clear: Grandpa, if you still have those killer ties, send them to me!!!
les amo,
e. adams
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Late email due to new missionary training
I'm glad to hear you were able to keep it glam in Hollywood. wit da girls´. I first wrote 'the high life', which people refer to the life of the rich and the famous. But then i realized that term is used completely wrong, 'the high life', I've been living for the past year and something, and doing it with out a Mercedes.
So yes, very belated letter, I was in Bogota all week in trainings with the Pres. and the Assistants, talking about how we as missionaries can improve.
they stated...
we have found that preach my gospel satisfies all the needs a missionary can have
we have concluded that few missionaries come with sufficient teaching skills
so basically we worked on fixing that. It was great. One of the first points is that we should invite our investigators to be baptized on a specific date the first or second appointment. I've been applying it, and it's been working miracles. They had found that the people we teach, many times, don't really understand why we are there, sometimes they think were to just share information, or talk about pretty things, or so that they live slightly better lives. But really were there to invite to Christ through baptism, and as we practice this concept were teaching them so.
Our zone had 3 baptismal dates, now we have around 20 after the conference. It's the best!
We tried to apply these new teaching skills throughout the week, and went great.
One of the principles was called 'revalation through Church asisitance'. This week i was with The other district leader in my zone in his area. when we were planing he told me about a family that they were teaching that can't go to church on Sundays because they work and study on Sundays. We talked in the conference the excuses our investigators use to not go to church. I realize there is never a valid reason for being disobedient. That if we have a conflict that inhibits us from following one of God's commandments, such as working on Sunday's, we just need to change, what ever it is, and trust that God will bless us in our decisions to follow him. Sometimes, it requires great sacrifice to be obedient, but when do sacrifice we are only following in the footsteps of He who sacrificed everything, to do the will of the Father.
We taught this sister and we did as we felt. We told if she wanted to change her life, she needed to do it now, and do whatever needed to follow Christ, and let the consequences follow. As representatives of Jesus Christ, we promised her the blessing that God has in store for her that we felt in our hearts. We invited her to be baptized. She accepted. She's going to withdraw from school so she can keep the Sabbath day Holy. I learned that I need to be bold and direct in everything. These people need to know the blessing and consequences of following the commandments.
I feel like i got a change coming in two weeks. We'll see how it goes.
I'll be writing you monday!
love you all so much!
e. adams
So yes, very belated letter, I was in Bogota all week in trainings with the Pres. and the Assistants, talking about how we as missionaries can improve.
they stated...
we have found that preach my gospel satisfies all the needs a missionary can have
we have concluded that few missionaries come with sufficient teaching skills
so basically we worked on fixing that. It was great. One of the first points is that we should invite our investigators to be baptized on a specific date the first or second appointment. I've been applying it, and it's been working miracles. They had found that the people we teach, many times, don't really understand why we are there, sometimes they think were to just share information, or talk about pretty things, or so that they live slightly better lives. But really were there to invite to Christ through baptism, and as we practice this concept were teaching them so.
Our zone had 3 baptismal dates, now we have around 20 after the conference. It's the best!
We tried to apply these new teaching skills throughout the week, and went great.
One of the principles was called 'revalation through Church asisitance'. This week i was with The other district leader in my zone in his area. when we were planing he told me about a family that they were teaching that can't go to church on Sundays because they work and study on Sundays. We talked in the conference the excuses our investigators use to not go to church. I realize there is never a valid reason for being disobedient. That if we have a conflict that inhibits us from following one of God's commandments, such as working on Sunday's, we just need to change, what ever it is, and trust that God will bless us in our decisions to follow him. Sometimes, it requires great sacrifice to be obedient, but when do sacrifice we are only following in the footsteps of He who sacrificed everything, to do the will of the Father.
We taught this sister and we did as we felt. We told if she wanted to change her life, she needed to do it now, and do whatever needed to follow Christ, and let the consequences follow. As representatives of Jesus Christ, we promised her the blessing that God has in store for her that we felt in our hearts. We invited her to be baptized. She accepted. She's going to withdraw from school so she can keep the Sabbath day Holy. I learned that I need to be bold and direct in everything. These people need to know the blessing and consequences of following the commandments.
I feel like i got a change coming in two weeks. We'll see how it goes.
I'll be writing you monday!
love you all so much!
e. adams
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The more I learn, the more I learn what I do not know!
querida familia,
Glad to hear that everyone is home, safe, and gettin' to work. Mi Dios listens and answers my prayers, as I ask him to to please take care of my family. I'm not sure how really life-or-death the ATV experince was, when i started reading it thought i was sure it fell on somebody, nevertheless, pumped your all safe.
After all your summer-vacations, I think the best would just be the 11 hour car ride (or if your speed racer mike, 9 hours) talking and laughing with you guys.
BTW I did as you asked, and I was looking at the calander and when the changes fall, and i'm pretty positive that i'll be home before the 16th of june. but maybe I'll extend my mission... who knows... WAHAHAHAHA!
As for me my family, I'm still in love with my mission. I've been analazing and coming to conclusions as of lately, concerning the things that i've improved in and the things I lack and need to work on. I thought once again, after some time, about something Jake Castle told me as I was preparing for my mission. He said something like, ``the rough thing about the mission is that when you really understand how to be a missionary, your already half way down´´ . I first ignorantly thought about it as I was in the MTC, and felt like I already understood everything. HA, oh was I wrong. I realize now that there is still so much, too much, to learn and to improve on. I remember hearing in Hummanties at BYU a quote, that said something along the lines, that the more I learn, the more I learn what I do not know.
Asi es la vida.
Neal A Maxwell, one of my heroes, gave a talk entitled ´´The Inexhaustable Gospel´´. That includes this great Work, there is so much to learn, and I was foolish if i could understand all of it in two years. Nevertheless, that's why I'm in the mission, and that why were here on earth, to learn little by little this inexhuastable gospel. And how great it is!
As i was reading this months liahona I loved the talk by elder Ballard about missonary work, in spanish it's called ´´Hablemos del evangelio con confianza´´. It's great. you all should read it. I was asked to give a talk in sacrament meething this week, I prepared it, but in the end I was asked not to talk. haha. But anyways, I stumbled upon my talk though this talk, and i fell in love with the idea of it. The whole idea of my talk was based on a qoute by Jose Smith that states that everything in our religion is just an apendage of the atonement of Jesus Chirst. It made me think that me, my companions, the members of the church, We just don't talk about Christ enough. Some times we just get too caught up in sticks and branches of the gospel that we forget the trunk and roots which are Christ and his atonement.
I wasn't able to give the talk but, my testimony was strengthened and my love for Him as well.
Family I need to tell you that I know, more than anything, that He came, He died, and the most important of all, that He lives.
in matthew it states, he went a little further, as he worked out an atonement for all of us. My wish is that we can do the same and go a little further in His work.
if all i ever did in these two years was to come to get to know Him a little more. It'd be worth the trip.
I love you all so much.
e. adams
Glad to hear that everyone is home, safe, and gettin' to work. Mi Dios listens and answers my prayers, as I ask him to to please take care of my family. I'm not sure how really life-or-death the ATV experince was, when i started reading it thought i was sure it fell on somebody, nevertheless, pumped your all safe.
After all your summer-vacations, I think the best would just be the 11 hour car ride (or if your speed racer mike, 9 hours) talking and laughing with you guys.
BTW I did as you asked, and I was looking at the calander and when the changes fall, and i'm pretty positive that i'll be home before the 16th of june. but maybe I'll extend my mission... who knows... WAHAHAHAHA!
As for me my family, I'm still in love with my mission. I've been analazing and coming to conclusions as of lately, concerning the things that i've improved in and the things I lack and need to work on. I thought once again, after some time, about something Jake Castle told me as I was preparing for my mission. He said something like, ``the rough thing about the mission is that when you really understand how to be a missionary, your already half way down´´ . I first ignorantly thought about it as I was in the MTC, and felt like I already understood everything. HA, oh was I wrong. I realize now that there is still so much, too much, to learn and to improve on. I remember hearing in Hummanties at BYU a quote, that said something along the lines, that the more I learn, the more I learn what I do not know.
Asi es la vida.
Neal A Maxwell, one of my heroes, gave a talk entitled ´´The Inexhaustable Gospel´´. That includes this great Work, there is so much to learn, and I was foolish if i could understand all of it in two years. Nevertheless, that's why I'm in the mission, and that why were here on earth, to learn little by little this inexhuastable gospel. And how great it is!
As i was reading this months liahona I loved the talk by elder Ballard about missonary work, in spanish it's called ´´Hablemos del evangelio con confianza´´. It's great. you all should read it. I was asked to give a talk in sacrament meething this week, I prepared it, but in the end I was asked not to talk. haha. But anyways, I stumbled upon my talk though this talk, and i fell in love with the idea of it. The whole idea of my talk was based on a qoute by Jose Smith that states that everything in our religion is just an apendage of the atonement of Jesus Chirst. It made me think that me, my companions, the members of the church, We just don't talk about Christ enough. Some times we just get too caught up in sticks and branches of the gospel that we forget the trunk and roots which are Christ and his atonement.
I wasn't able to give the talk but, my testimony was strengthened and my love for Him as well.
Family I need to tell you that I know, more than anything, that He came, He died, and the most important of all, that He lives.
in matthew it states, he went a little further, as he worked out an atonement for all of us. My wish is that we can do the same and go a little further in His work.
if all i ever did in these two years was to come to get to know Him a little more. It'd be worth the trip.
I love you all so much.
e. adams
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Parades no candy
I loved reading your letter today mom. I could here you reading it. and when i got to the part when you mentioned pilar, i could just here you saying the name like you'd say it en english. love it.
Shoot. well i guess i missed out. BUT you guys missed the bicentenario de indpendence of COLOMBIA! Mom, i still got the tourist in me, i think i was the only missionary that wanted to go to the parade, put i managed to persude the zone to go, we changed our p'day today so we could go. it was sweet! they parade a little different here. no candy. more people. and just military. pero igual, it was cool.
congrats mike on the big job! i expect you to have made your first million by the time i get back. segurase.
Mom your walnut story just brings back bad memories for me when i had to get a root canal. ugh. and the doctor that didn't want to inject me again with pain killers cause he was 'almost done'. gives me shivers.
Hey congrats to the future to be wededs.Make sure to send them my love. Ha always new Andrew wanted Jordan to drive him nuts the rest of his life. love them.
I ASKED JAKE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE IS HIS RESPONSE TO THOSE QUESTIONS
"If they are not a ward or don't have a chapel where do they meet?"
It's called a chapel house, haha i really don't know if that's that you call it in english but that's how it translates from spanish. it rocks. They have plans to build a chapel but who knows how long that takes.
" I loved the photo you sent last week at Pilar's baptism of the portable font! Question how do you get into that?"
we use a two sided ladder. i know. high tech. twas super cold by the way.
Do you need anything?
just your love... well, and another thing, my camera needs to get fixed... soo i might (do) need to take some money out to fix it. and my ipod speakers fried... soooo
I don't have much time but i'm loving working with elder ramierz. we had 6 new investigators in the 3 days that we were working togther this last week. love it.
This might be the shortest letter i've ever written. but i HAVE to go. but know that i love you all, and am eternally grateful for everything you all have done.
les amo,
e. adams
Shoot. well i guess i missed out. BUT you guys missed the bicentenario de indpendence of COLOMBIA! Mom, i still got the tourist in me, i think i was the only missionary that wanted to go to the parade, put i managed to persude the zone to go, we changed our p'day today so we could go. it was sweet! they parade a little different here. no candy. more people. and just military. pero igual, it was cool.
congrats mike on the big job! i expect you to have made your first million by the time i get back. segurase.
Mom your walnut story just brings back bad memories for me when i had to get a root canal. ugh. and the doctor that didn't want to inject me again with pain killers cause he was 'almost done'. gives me shivers.
Hey congrats to the future to be wededs.Make sure to send them my love. Ha always new Andrew wanted Jordan to drive him nuts the rest of his life. love them.
I ASKED JAKE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE IS HIS RESPONSE TO THOSE QUESTIONS
"If they are not a ward or don't have a chapel where do they meet?"
It's called a chapel house, haha i really don't know if that's that you call it in english but that's how it translates from spanish. it rocks. They have plans to build a chapel but who knows how long that takes.
" I loved the photo you sent last week at Pilar's baptism of the portable font! Question how do you get into that?"
we use a two sided ladder. i know. high tech. twas super cold by the way.
Do you need anything?
just your love... well, and another thing, my camera needs to get fixed... soo i might (do) need to take some money out to fix it. and my ipod speakers fried... soooo
I don't have much time but i'm loving working with elder ramierz. we had 6 new investigators in the 3 days that we were working togther this last week. love it.
This might be the shortest letter i've ever written. but i HAVE to go. but know that i love you all, and am eternally grateful for everything you all have done.
les amo,
e. adams
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Transfers! Staying in Faca
Wow. close call Dad. glad they didn't have to use those fire trucks, it would have been horrible to walk though the airport soakin wet... haha no but seriously, that gave me a little bit of a spook reading it thinking about how close that was. Soo sooo glad you're alright. I'm greatful that i don't have to take a step on one of those for another 11 months or so.
So yes, changes came. Pretty much changed the whole zone. Two others and mi stayed here out of the ten in our zone. and my whole district changed. Both of the sisters left and there bringing in elders, along with my companion, Elder Ravanales, whose headed to Bogota. Every change countines to go by even faster. I loved this change with Elder Ravanales, super cool kid, we found out that we have pretty much the opposite prefences in total, but we got along great. I was more than ready to stay another change with him, but nevertheless i'm pumped for my new companion and to stay here in Faca for a bit more time. My new companion is from Paraguay and his name is Elder Ramirez. I already know him, we were in the same district a month and a half ago in Suba, when he was getting trained. He's from the same group as my son, so he's only got about 3 months in the mission, pero un PODER! He's an awesome missionary, i've never seen a missionary more obiedient. When I went on interchanges with him in Suba i was super impressed we even talked about it'd be sweet if we were companions. what's up! it's going to be the best. I know i'm goint to learn a lot from him. The other two missionaries in my district have 4 and a half months, it's going to be a great transfer.
Pilar got bapitzed. Super sweet. She's now got a house of her own and had a Job interview today. How blessed we are when we are obedient.
preguntas y respuestas
How's the responsibility of District Leader, I assume you have to call each companionship each night?
It's the best. For me its the best assignment in the mission. I guess for responsiblities, one is yes, to call each companionship every night, make sure there in the house and chat with them for a bit about how they're doing in there area, and find out how you can help them, also to go on exchanges with them, to give reports to the zone leaders, and have distirct meetings. I like it because you can be more hands on and know more about the areas and have more chances to help and serve the missionaries in your district. Our zone is huge so we mostly just have district activities rather then for the zone.
How did the Columbian’s take to Spain winning the world cup?
Almost everyone wanted them to loose. There is still a little bit of bad blood here in south america with the Spanish, with the whole imperialist thing. The whole world cup just made me want to play soccer on p'days, elder ravanales isn't to big of a fan but i'm hopin for a soccer filled change to come. I got plans and goals to go to Brasil in 4 years. WORLD CUP 2014 in brasil!!!
Will things get back to normal in Columbia now that the cup is over?
They weren't to crazy to start here in Colombia, probably would of been more animated if Colombia entered. Nick Hardy told me everyone in argentina went nuts the whole time. But not to much here. When we were walking around during the final everyone was still in the street.
Good news! Facatativa is becoming a ward! i'm pumped! they got approval from salt lake and now in like 2 to 4 weeks there going to change. I'm excited to see the progess it's going to cause. It helps alot more with the work when there is a chapel, that there going to start to build.
Hey i uploaded that video form the Talent Show to the net drive in the jake folder, its called MOV01129, its in spanish, and the jokes only apply to colombia, but you can still laugh at my rockin 'baile'!
Sorry, short letter. I be sure to blow your minds with length the next one!
I love you sooo much!
E. Adams
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Missing the RED WHITE AND BLUE
you know you've been away from your home for a while when you have to have a colombian remind you that its the independence day of your own country. I felt a litte said, like I had lost something, but I know lady liberty will forgive me. At least my subconcious reminded to put on a red and blue tie. thanks sub conciousness!
Nevertheless, the skys were quite and i missed my red white and blue. Parades and picnics. I love Colombia so much, but i know it can't ever be more than a 2nd home. te amo America.
ha, fun storry, an area 70 came here for a tour of our mission. We had a conference with him and he cut the head of everyone.
he started explaining the kindgoms in the plan of salvacion and when he got to the terrestral kindgom, he went off. He was like, here is where the missionaries that don't do their excersises go, here is where the missioneres that don't wake up at 630 go. then he said ''elder, this will be your hell'', I started to laugh then I realized he was serious. rough stuff. I'm pretty sure its just very boarderline apostasy but i think it fulled it's purpose of scaring everyone to death. oh gosh. loved it, and he helped me to think of somethings I need to correct.
Today we went to play basketball with some members, and about 5 minutes into the game I went up for a loose ball and so did one of the members, I didn't come down with the ball but he did come down falling on his ankle and spraining it bad. Whoops, party foul ending a veryshort game. He went to the hospital. I'm pretty sure i didn't touch him, nevertheless, I don't think he'll be giving us a reference for a while. my bad.
Saturday I had the opportunity to go to campiña to baptize a brother that I taught and get ready to get married, but they were missing a paper. I love to be able to witness people make covenents with our Heavenly father, especially when its a family that now has a chance to become eternal.
Ha thanks for letting me know that Mike and Stef are so in love. I love that that they love each other. And hahah no mom, haven't been the least bit worried about getting married. But I did have a great idea of searching for a colombian club at BYU! my heart tells me it exsists.
We have a great family we are teaching right now. They help me keep going. Yesterday was full of downers but then we stopped by and had a spirit filled lesson watching the restoration. I know they will progress, they just have to do their little part by asking God about the truth. I just wish everyone could understand the blessings that come from the Gospel. There is nothing greater.
Oh and Pilar, the rock of a woman I told you about, things are getting better, and she's getting baptized this weekend. Let's pray for her.
I love you all so much,
e. adams
ps.
i got both of the packages momz! they were great! btw i tried to use that debit card but it didn't work. bummer.
Nevertheless, the skys were quite and i missed my red white and blue. Parades and picnics. I love Colombia so much, but i know it can't ever be more than a 2nd home. te amo America.
ha, fun storry, an area 70 came here for a tour of our mission. We had a conference with him and he cut the head of everyone.
he started explaining the kindgoms in the plan of salvacion and when he got to the terrestral kindgom, he went off. He was like, here is where the missionaries that don't do their excersises go, here is where the missioneres that don't wake up at 630 go. then he said ''elder, this will be your hell'', I started to laugh then I realized he was serious. rough stuff. I'm pretty sure its just very boarderline apostasy but i think it fulled it's purpose of scaring everyone to death. oh gosh. loved it, and he helped me to think of somethings I need to correct.
Today we went to play basketball with some members, and about 5 minutes into the game I went up for a loose ball and so did one of the members, I didn't come down with the ball but he did come down falling on his ankle and spraining it bad. Whoops, party foul ending a veryshort game. He went to the hospital. I'm pretty sure i didn't touch him, nevertheless, I don't think he'll be giving us a reference for a while. my bad.
Saturday I had the opportunity to go to campiña to baptize a brother that I taught and get ready to get married, but they were missing a paper. I love to be able to witness people make covenents with our Heavenly father, especially when its a family that now has a chance to become eternal.
Ha thanks for letting me know that Mike and Stef are so in love. I love that that they love each other. And hahah no mom, haven't been the least bit worried about getting married. But I did have a great idea of searching for a colombian club at BYU! my heart tells me it exsists.
We have a great family we are teaching right now. They help me keep going. Yesterday was full of downers but then we stopped by and had a spirit filled lesson watching the restoration. I know they will progress, they just have to do their little part by asking God about the truth. I just wish everyone could understand the blessings that come from the Gospel. There is nothing greater.
Oh and Pilar, the rock of a woman I told you about, things are getting better, and she's getting baptized this weekend. Let's pray for her.
I love you all so much,
e. adams
ps.
i got both of the packages momz! they were great! btw i tried to use that debit card but it didn't work. bummer.
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