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 niƱa 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

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

Monday, November 8, 2010

Bishop's family dressed as "The Adams" what an honor!!!

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!!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Jake Wolfgang Puck




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 !