Temple visit! Yes they do have a fireplace

How blessed I am

QYA

Can you eat seafood in your mission? on the email group said that in Barranquilla mission said that their sons were told not to eat seafood because the locals don't prepare it properly.

I can, they make a killer fried fish called mojarra here, it rocks my world, i'll take a picture of it the next time. I've heard they can't eat onions either. But i can eat whateva i want. that includes cow tounge, chicken feet, liver, intestines, hearts, eye balls, to my hearts content.

How are your shoes have you worn them out yet?

Ha, those things are invencible. the ones we bought for 30 bucks at last chance still look new when i polish them. ecco 4 lyfe

Did you get the package I sent on June 10th?

yes. Sooo good. loved it. I savoured every drop of my Dr. Pepper.

Yesterday i went, again, to Salitre Magico, which is that carnaval that they call an amusement park here. Everyone it was a zone activity so i took one for the team. I got a killer sunburn, so they tell me to put 'leche de magnesium' on my face, which is a laxative, they say it helps absorb the heat, i dont know. But i do know i had laxative all over my face and neck. awesome!

That is one thing i love about Colombia they have a 101 crazy ways to cure everything, or they are 100 percent sure that everything will kill you. I've heard..

that if you eat more than one egg a day you will die

coca cola kills

things like kool ade and other flavoring powders are the most damaging things in the world!

we can't drink milk, to go as far as to say its against the word of wisdom

if you eat chocolate you will have diabities

if you eat after 6 you'll die

don't eat bread, you'll become fat, then you'll die

We had set up a talent show here in the branch to get more references and for everyone to love each other a little bit more.

I LOVE TALENT SHOWS IN COLOMBIA!

There beyond informal and soo good. we pretty much filmed everything so i'll show you when i can. We had no idea what to do till the day of the show, but we came up with a killer skit.

I was un costeño vender (someone from the atlantic cost such as barranquilla, they have a very distinct culture and they talk completely different, like ebonics en english, they change the S's to J's so that you need an interpretar to understand)

and my companion was a gringo tourist

needless to say, it was success. I ended up dancing Cumbia (wikipedia Cumbia), someone once told me that you can't dance, but its not in the manual so i did it.

One thing i really learned this week is how incredibly blessed i am. We are teaching a family right now who is in quite a situation. The mom has about 6 kids. two sons who are drug addicts, one of which occsaionally stops by to cause problems the other she has no idea where he is at, one daughter that is 18 pregnant and already has a 2 year old, both of which are from her drug addict boyfriend, and these two decided they were going to still the mom's rent money and head off. Resulting in her getting evicted from her house, and having to move with her two younger kids to sleep at the house of her sister that want's to kick her out tomorrow. The two kids haven't studied for who knows how long, because they can't find 12 dollars to enrole. And all of this leads her to feel as though God doesn't love her, that's he has abandoned her, and that she lacking in faith that things will get better. We tell her and the scriptures tell that it's not true. That does love her, so much, and that he won't ever abandon her, and things surely will always get better if we have faith. We invited her to come back to church, and to be bapitzed, and if she comes to Christ things will get better. And she is coming to Christ, she went to Church, and she's getting baptized this saturday. It's a sure thing, that if we trust in God, things WILL always get better.

Being here in Colombia for the past year serving has made and helped me realize how much i really have been given, and how blessed i've been, more then i can ever know. I feel so indebted to the Lord, and you guys, and our ancestors for their obeidience. I read a scripture in the old testment the other day that says that for our obidience gerneration upon generation will be blessed. I know it's true.

I love you all. And i know that God loves and blesses us more than we really can imagine,

e. adams

The eyes of the people are on us!

Dad, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN, AND FATHER'S DAY!, I've been trying to write my friend presi monson about the neglecting of the father's and there phone call, but until i hear back, i guess you'll have to just go with the second best gift after a phone call from me, HAWAII. shoot, i bet that place HAS to relax someone. There's a elder in my mission from the island with the temple. he's the most easy going, patient person i've ever met, it's almost unbarable. I think we all need a little bit of hawaii sometimes.

welp have a good one! i love you with all my heart x 10!

Today i write, because we went to the temple, and oh how great it is always is.

i had a little time to reflect, ponder, feel and love in the celestial room. i had then chance to read a little bit. I felt prompted to read Joesph's Smith's didicatory prayer fro the Kirtland Temple. i felt this verse.

And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them (dyc 109 22)

I noticed more than ever today as we ran some errunds in Bogota the eyes of the people on us. I thought it was wierd throughout the day, but now i think about that, and i think about this verse. Maybe, that glory is real. And maybe that glory is visible to those around us. They might not know what it is, but its something different. I feel and know that the temple changes us. Someone said, once, don't just go to the temple, but let the temple go through you. I thought it was just a little cheasy the first time i heard it, but maybe it was so much better than i thought. I challange you! to go to the temple. to use that recommend.

There is a family here in Faca, they are great, but aren't doing so great. There having a lot of problems with this marriage. They have almost two years as members, and have been sooo good to this missionaries. It is impossible to go to that house with out here trying to feed you with food paid with money that they don't have.

But the problems are bad.

she told us that she got married in the temple as a comprimse. That she doesn't really ''see'' her self with her husband in the future. My first feeling was that of sadness, then almost anger, thinking about that. We taught them, trying to make them think again. Inviting them to pray, to do something. The truth is, elder ravenales nor i, am married, or have a clue what it is like, but we have parents that do, and that are do it it well. So we basically just told them what we've learned from the love and marriages that are parents have, and they have to do the same for their child. Thanks mom and dad for loving each other soooo much.

Oh gosh, uncle tom, i've always wanted to know how you losted those figers. I always will remember how cool i thought he was with my grand ambitions to be a cowboy like him, maybe i still got that inner cowboy in me. something stirs in me here in faca sayin' LET'S RIDE!.

I read that story i asked you guess to send me called 'the countess and the impossible'. About the impossible five dollar job. i encourage you to google it and read it.
anyways, it made me think a lot. About the mission, about my life, or life in general. At the end, when he completes the five dollar job, the lady tells him this.

'' Whenever something in you says, "It's impossible," remember to take a careful look and see if it isn't really God asking you to grow an inch, or a foot, or a mile, that you may come to a fuller life ''

I think we're quicker to say that we can't, rather than to 'take a careful look'.

i wrote it down. and i'm trying to apply it.

I love those humbling impression when you realize that you can do so much more.

te amo familia!

e. adams

Colombians Love futbol

Yesterday was father's day here in colombia, so that almost messed up. but, i'll give you early happy father's/birthday day salute! I'm sending you something for you big 50th, you might be 51 when you get it but its the thought that counts no?

btw, i thought i was getting old when i hit twenty and tought i was half way to 40, but your 50! oh gosh! that's half of a centry! much worse... ha!

but don't worry you don't look a day older then 49... ha!

when it comes to making fun of mi viejo (old man), i still got it (well at least i laughed)...

but the truth is these colombians are alway impressed when i tell them your's and mom's ages.

i love you dad! and happy birthday and father's day!

twas great to here from the adam's fam. I was super lost looking at the last name's of everyone, but when i focused in on the firsted name's i got it! send them all my love.

fun fact: i have one leg that is 1.3 cm sorter then the other, causing a handful of back problems. But everything is ok! i have a shoe insert!

Today we helped the sisters in my district move. Silly girls, moved from a sweet apartment to a peice of junk. There new house has the following problems... there are no doors... no one except the front one, so that includes doors to bathrooms, there are is no footing, in the whole house, just carptet put over cement, ha and part of the heading is taped on... ha love colombia. i told them my dad would come to fix, so nos vemos in like two weeks ok dad? sweet.

So the world cup (mundial) started this week. made my week with the us tying england. love it. we got it all figured out here how the US can go to the semifinals.

It's super impresive how intense they are about soccer here. They've been talking about it for like 3 months. and the city about shuts down for the games. Oh and its just going to be worse as it goes on. BUT I LOVE FOOTBALL!

don't be suprised if i come back and love nothing more than

1. futbol 2. arroz 3. musica española

We're turning things around here in RAMA FACA. asking references like crazy, recieving references like crazy, finding people, teaching people, and loving every second.

les amo a la lata,

e. adams

have you gotten my CD yet? i sent it like two weeks ago.

piedras de tunjo

Completely changed life in 1 year

Today we went to what is alled the PIEDRAS DE TUNJO, which is a bunch of huge bolders covered and surronded by grass and rivers. hermosa. I was able to use my newly aquired fanny pack, 100 perent leather with some cow hide on the outside. the ultimate. maybe you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the greatness in my pictures.

How is your new area and your new companion?

My new area is sweet, its a pueblo, or in english a small town. It's about an hour away from Bogota. When we went today to the piedras de tunjo, and were on top of a huge rock, we could see bogota. so not to far away. It's sweet serving in a pueblo because you know what ever door you knock or person you find in the street lives there so you don't have to worry about them being in your area or not, unlike bogota. My companion's name is elder ravanles, he's from santiago chili, where rob carroll is serving. He's a funny kid, he's got about 3 months less than me in the field, he's smart, hardworking, and want's to marry gringo with red hair. so that leads me to the next question...

I was reading another elders blog that said some north American female missionaries are coming is that true? Is it safe for them?

There are definatly areas in Bogota, and outside of Bogota safe for any body, and i'm sure they would be with latin sisters so if they wanted to blend in they could just not talk. That's sweet if its true, ha the only thing i'd be worried about is the latin elders hitting on them, seeing a gringa for the first time

Your new area is about the same temp as Bogota is it mountains? Tropical?

It is in the mountains. i love it. we live on like the limit of the city next to cows, and outside of our window is a huge, super green mountain with cows grazing on it. and a river passes on the side of our house. It's the best. Its like heber. but better!

How is the ward?

It's actually not a ward... It's something that your not going to find in Gilbert(i guess that's where i'm from, was cooler to say phoenix, but i'll sacrifice.) there called Branches? yeah what's that? its what a ward is before a ward, is. I'm just kidding im sure you guys know what a branch is, but it's the first time that i've actually been in one, let alone worked as a missionary in one, it's a bit different, but still great. The Branch President is an all star. works super hard and cares and loves a bunch. They tell me that they sent the papers in to qualify to be a ward, but it defiantly looks pretty branch-esque to me.

Did you get your package with the garments in them yet?

Yes. yes. i did. Thanks! it's in the office right now but i'm sure ill see it soon!

Soo, yeah, i'm loving Faca (pronouned Faka, it's a city that could have a better sounding name for an native english speaker). My companion is a firecracker (i don't know if that word makes sense in english but i felt like that was that word i should use), he works hard, talks a lot, and never is afraid to say anything... to any one. ha so that makes up for some awkward moments. One word to desribe him : EXTREME. and i like extreme, wanna be extreme, so yeah. it's the best.

Leaving la campiña was rough. a lot harder than i thought. i just felt so good and comfortable there. this past sunday 5 new melcquesdik (way off! on the spelling) preisthood holders were confirmed. When your in a great place for a long time, with the best people in the world, its going to be hard to leave. and it was. I had one convert that i met in the street that yelled at me on his bike'HI HOW ARE YOU MY NAME IS ANDRES; DO YOU SPEAKa ENGLISH?`. he's 19 and learned to speak english in a year, reasonable well. He use to be super thug, he has tattoos that he gave him self and use to drink and do many a drugs. He's probably the best friend i've found in Colombia. When i left, we were both sad, he brought me lunch and printed up a picture and on the back, in his broken english wrote the best letter. `

''dear adams,

I want you know, thank to ou, i have been feeling so good with my self, thanks for the covenant with Good, and im very happ today. Because i know complete your mision with God, and that's very fine. I like that. I don't want you forget us because, we will never forget you. you are an special person who changed our lifes, thanks Adams

we will never forget you.

I will visit to you in Arizona in two years i hope everything go to be all right for you and for your family in the future.

'I hope turn to see you'

-Andres''

If anyone that ever reads this, has the posibilty to serve a mission. Oh, please serve. What joy, what friendship, what satisfation, what peace, what good it is in helping just one life be changed, helping someone have the possibilty and chance of salvation.

My feelings when I read Andres' letter, makes me think of something that Alma the younger wrote--

'' And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us. '' (alma 26:30-31)

My joy is full as i look at the fruits of my work. As I approach completing a year in the mission i try to focus on the optismum, as in the glass half full theory, rather than half empty. My life has completely changed in just one year, and as i natuarly want to feel sad, or maybe afraid that a year has come and gone, and only to think how fast the next will go, i just try to think about how much beauty there is in this country and it's people, and that i still have 365 days to be guided and directed by the spirit of the Lord.

i am so happy.

i love you all, so much,

e. adams

Factativa bound

Killer bike Josh. I'm glad that your pedals glow in the dark -- safety first! I wouldn't have the guts to ride my bike here. It's like 24/7 nascar mixed with demolition derby. Love it!

Yesterday was elections! the former president, Uribe, finished his 8 years, so the seat was up for grabs. From what i understood it was between a guy named Santos, and another named Moukus, other than the fact that santos uses red and moukus green, i don't know the diference. I hear santos is winning, we'll see. I just hope that whoever it is, will do whatever is need so i can stay here in Colombia.

Oh changes! So, 6 redicously fast paced months, i'm leaving my beloved area. I've found that what ever i want the change to be, it's the opposite. But i'm still happy with whatever my President and the Lord decide, and find, very soon after, that it was a much better, and inspired desicion than i could have made. I loved my time and the people here in campiña. I'll never forget my companions and converts here. We had a baptism this past saturday, her name is Claudia. We finished the month with 6 baptism, a super sweet start for mi hijo. I loved my time training him. Never have i been so busy, nor has a change gone by so fast. I believe the two are closely related. I'll miss e. ramirez, but i left him with 4 people ready to be baptized, i hope he'll learn alot with his new companion, who only has about 5 months. My new area is a city called Factativa, its about 3 hours away, from what they tell me, from bogota. It's a little bit colder than Bogota. I don't remember the name of my companion, but he's Chilian! I'll have the oportunity to be the district leader there. It'll be a great experience.

We finished off the change last night with my district, eating tacos and cheese cake, gracias to the world's best mom! i'll send a picture! i promise!

I sent that CD wednesday, so it should be there any day. It has about a year of fotos so that sould keep you busy for a while.

You'll have to forgive my for what was a relativly short email. But i sent like 4 gigs of CDs. and like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so that so something like 600,000 words!!!

I love you all!!!!

e. adams