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

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

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

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