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
Monday, August 30, 2010
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
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