Monday, June 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Elder Adams last letter home
I know Mom is expecting a style, Homer's the Odessey. But I fear i might let you down, for my heart is full but my word's are few. Nevertheless. I will give it a try.
As I read Dad's last letter a few minutes ago, My heart was full of emotions as I realized that the greatest experience of my life is coming to an end. I cried, but then a reassuring feeling came to me that it's just another beginning, and I'm going to see my family that I love so much in just a few days.
You asked me what this mission has meant to me and the truth is that it means everything to me. I think that is why it is so hard for me to leave. I am nothing without what I have learned here. It has completely changed my course. I've noticed who I was the errors I had made and where I would be. I also thought about the lack of light in my life that I would have had if I never went on a mission. I've also felt forgiveness, strength and guidance. I really have come to know Christ. I've tried to serve him the best I could, and for the past two years he has lightened up my life with faith and hope.
I remember the first few days in my mission in the MTC, and the overwhelming spirit I felt. I bet every new missionary starts with the desire to be the best they can. They want nothing to inhibit them from teaching by the spirit. I remember as doubts came into my head telling me that I wasn't capable. After only a short time I sat in a meeting and was overwhelmed by the spirit and being perfectly sure that the Lord had forgiven me for everything I had ever done wrong in the past, and he filled me with hope knowing that I could serve him well.
I also remember getting to Colombia, wide eyed, and ready to go, after three days with only a couple hours of sleep, and meeting my first companion, he was a Peruvian, Elder Reynoso, in a couple months he will turn 29 years old, and how he was ready to teach me and show me how to be a good missionary. And I also remember my arrogance, believing that I already understood what being a missionary is and that I just needed to go out and find some people to baptized. I was so wrong. He helped me recognize pride, and I started to see it in me. I saw it in how i treated others and especially how I had treated my parents and my siblings. I remember realizing how I had forgotten the ´´weightier matters of the law´´and I asked forgiveness, and started to strive to be a better person.
I remember learning how to really love people that I couldn't even communicate with, and try to help them to receive the restored gospel. I truly love the people here in Colombia, and I have met people that have taught me lessons that I will never forget. I had the opportunity to be quick to observe and allow those principles to change my life. I think of William Beroy, a true Christan family man. After himself,his wife and five kids all under twelve years of age were baptized they never looked back and continued strong in the gospel. He would get home from work at 11 at night and sing hymns, read scriptures, and prayed with his kids, before he got up again at 5 in the morning to take them to school. And how they taught me in their humble home that you don't need much to be happy. I think of Anderson Zapata and his energy for the gospel. I think of Adriana Velasquez and her understanding of the gospel, and how she is now preparing for a mission.
The people here are so warm, willing and generous. I will love them forever.
I have learned from and loved everyone of my companions. I believe they are the people that have most changed my life, as we walked together in the scorching sun. We shared testimonies and tried to put up with and learn from one another. As we laughed and taught and helped people to change their lives, our friendship naturally strengthened.
Altough I know it will only get hard to leave the mission, My love for you, my family is greater. These two years have been the best two years of my life until now. But I know as I strive to be faithfull, every year will be better than the next, because that is what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers. I've been taught " that which comes easy isn't worth little, but that which requires much work is of much worth." But I feel as though I have found my pearl of great price and I'm willing to give the rest of my life in service to the Lord to reach it.
I will tell you now, that if you are expecting to find a perfect son next week, I'm not him. Because I still have many dificulties, and still make many mistakes. But like Nephi, my heart is strong as"I know in whom I have trusted". He is the reason and the motive, and I love Him so much. I believe I have done what he wanted done, that I could get to know Him better by helping others to come unto Him.
´´O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh.´´
I truly love you all so much. see you next week!
He lives,
Elder Adams
As I read Dad's last letter a few minutes ago, My heart was full of emotions as I realized that the greatest experience of my life is coming to an end. I cried, but then a reassuring feeling came to me that it's just another beginning, and I'm going to see my family that I love so much in just a few days.
You asked me what this mission has meant to me and the truth is that it means everything to me. I think that is why it is so hard for me to leave. I am nothing without what I have learned here. It has completely changed my course. I've noticed who I was the errors I had made and where I would be. I also thought about the lack of light in my life that I would have had if I never went on a mission. I've also felt forgiveness, strength and guidance. I really have come to know Christ. I've tried to serve him the best I could, and for the past two years he has lightened up my life with faith and hope.
I remember the first few days in my mission in the MTC, and the overwhelming spirit I felt. I bet every new missionary starts with the desire to be the best they can. They want nothing to inhibit them from teaching by the spirit. I remember as doubts came into my head telling me that I wasn't capable. After only a short time I sat in a meeting and was overwhelmed by the spirit and being perfectly sure that the Lord had forgiven me for everything I had ever done wrong in the past, and he filled me with hope knowing that I could serve him well.
I also remember getting to Colombia, wide eyed, and ready to go, after three days with only a couple hours of sleep, and meeting my first companion, he was a Peruvian, Elder Reynoso, in a couple months he will turn 29 years old, and how he was ready to teach me and show me how to be a good missionary. And I also remember my arrogance, believing that I already understood what being a missionary is and that I just needed to go out and find some people to baptized. I was so wrong. He helped me recognize pride, and I started to see it in me. I saw it in how i treated others and especially how I had treated my parents and my siblings. I remember realizing how I had forgotten the ´´weightier matters of the law´´and I asked forgiveness, and started to strive to be a better person.
I remember learning how to really love people that I couldn't even communicate with, and try to help them to receive the restored gospel. I truly love the people here in Colombia, and I have met people that have taught me lessons that I will never forget. I had the opportunity to be quick to observe and allow those principles to change my life. I think of William Beroy, a true Christan family man. After himself,his wife and five kids all under twelve years of age were baptized they never looked back and continued strong in the gospel. He would get home from work at 11 at night and sing hymns, read scriptures, and prayed with his kids, before he got up again at 5 in the morning to take them to school. And how they taught me in their humble home that you don't need much to be happy. I think of Anderson Zapata and his energy for the gospel. I think of Adriana Velasquez and her understanding of the gospel, and how she is now preparing for a mission.
The people here are so warm, willing and generous. I will love them forever.
I have learned from and loved everyone of my companions. I believe they are the people that have most changed my life, as we walked together in the scorching sun. We shared testimonies and tried to put up with and learn from one another. As we laughed and taught and helped people to change their lives, our friendship naturally strengthened.
Altough I know it will only get hard to leave the mission, My love for you, my family is greater. These two years have been the best two years of my life until now. But I know as I strive to be faithfull, every year will be better than the next, because that is what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers. I've been taught " that which comes easy isn't worth little, but that which requires much work is of much worth." But I feel as though I have found my pearl of great price and I'm willing to give the rest of my life in service to the Lord to reach it.
I will tell you now, that if you are expecting to find a perfect son next week, I'm not him. Because I still have many dificulties, and still make many mistakes. But like Nephi, my heart is strong as"I know in whom I have trusted". He is the reason and the motive, and I love Him so much. I believe I have done what he wanted done, that I could get to know Him better by helping others to come unto Him.
´´O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh.´´
I truly love you all so much. see you next week!
He lives,
Elder Adams
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Guided by the Lord
familia,
This monday we had a zone conference, It was in the same chapel where i had my first zone confrence, and in our mission we have the tradition that the new missionaries from that transfer, and the missionarys that are going home bare their testimonies. Elder Seaton, Burns, and I got up to give our testimonies. Super sureal, knowing that my time is coming to an end. Times like those are hard when I actually have to come to terms with the fact that i'm leaving, but I find solace in my daily work where I can just work and be happy, and kid my self into thinking that this is going to last forever, I like it better that way.
As for the familia moreno of seven, looks like they aren't going to be baptized before i leave, right now just the dad and one of his kid's is really progressing. This last Saturday we had a baptism of a 9 year old kid named Johan. We reactivated his mom that was baptized almost 20 years ago, she has been inactive for more than half of that. Johan is a gem. He's a super smart, nice, unselfish serving kid. Actually reminds me of Josh when he was a kid. It's great to be able to activate a family. In the baptismal service we pleaded that she give her testimony, she finally did. She said it was the first time ever that she has got up in church to give a prayer / testimony / talk. She broke down and started testifying about how happy she was for the baptism Johan, and she new that this is the best place for him to grow up and know God. I have hope that they will stay active and Johan will go on a mission.
That same Saturday. we had taken a bus from lunch to another appointment. We weren't sure what bus to take so we sat there for almost ten minutes trying to figure out which one to take. Finally we got on the bus and the kid collecting the toll was a less active member, so I talked with him for a while. When we got to our stop the bus driver didn't stop but kept going until we got to stop in front of our chapel. We got off and started walking to the appointment, which we were late for. A lady turned around and asked if we were missionaries. She told us she was looking for a member of the church so she could find out more information. Her name is Maria. Here is Maria's story...
Maria learned about the church in Ecuador. She went to church, listened to the missionaries and had her baptismal interview and the next day she was going to be baptized. Her parents forbade it, so out of respect for them, she didn't get baptized the next day, but promised the missionaries that she would get baptized as soon as she could here in Colombia.
On her way back from Ecuador to Colombia she stopped by a place to learn more about where the church was located in her town. The members told her that there weren't any member's in her little secluded town. The closest chapel from where she lived was ours which is four hours away from her town. A couple weeks later she left Saturday morning to find the church to attend, and hopefully be baptized. When she got here to Bucaramanga that afternoon she started walking looking for the church. When we had got there, she had been waiting for only five minutes. It truly was a miracle. We rarely pass by the chapel because it's in a part of our area that is all comerical. So we were truly guided by the Lord to find her.
She most likely we come back next week, the last week of my mission, from her small little town to be baptized.
The other day we passed by a house that I had visited before when I was here for the first time. Because She was a Doctor she had very little time so she never progressed. But we decided to knock the door to see what happens. She came out with big sunglasses, and I thought, well this is weird. Soon we learned by the falling tears, that she was wearing them trying to cover up her tears. She told us that she was having a lot of problems at work and she was very depressed. We promised her blessings if she would listen to our message and go to church again. She recognized that Lord had sent us and we set a visit. We went back this last Sunday and she told me what had happened after I left. We started talking about baptism, and she said that that afternoon when we had stopped by she went back into the house and started to think about what had happened, and figure out what God was trying to tell her. She then started to think about baptism, and felt a calming presence, she said
"it was like having my best friend at my side, something I haven't felt for over six years." I then asked her what had happened six years ago, and she said that her dad had passed away. This was the first time since, that she had felt his presence. The spirit was there, and it just so happened to be that brother that I was on splits with his mom had died exactly years ago from that day, and he told us how that had an effect on the reason why he was got baptized. The Spirit was super strong, and she then excepted a baptismal date. We have an appointment with her tonight.
Continually feeling my days and hours guided by the Lord just makes me want to live in such away that It can stay like that after the mission.
Les amo muchismo.
e. adams
p.s. ill be sure and write a good letter next week.
This monday we had a zone conference, It was in the same chapel where i had my first zone confrence, and in our mission we have the tradition that the new missionaries from that transfer, and the missionarys that are going home bare their testimonies. Elder Seaton, Burns, and I got up to give our testimonies. Super sureal, knowing that my time is coming to an end. Times like those are hard when I actually have to come to terms with the fact that i'm leaving, but I find solace in my daily work where I can just work and be happy, and kid my self into thinking that this is going to last forever, I like it better that way.
As for the familia moreno of seven, looks like they aren't going to be baptized before i leave, right now just the dad and one of his kid's is really progressing. This last Saturday we had a baptism of a 9 year old kid named Johan. We reactivated his mom that was baptized almost 20 years ago, she has been inactive for more than half of that. Johan is a gem. He's a super smart, nice, unselfish serving kid. Actually reminds me of Josh when he was a kid. It's great to be able to activate a family. In the baptismal service we pleaded that she give her testimony, she finally did. She said it was the first time ever that she has got up in church to give a prayer / testimony / talk. She broke down and started testifying about how happy she was for the baptism Johan, and she new that this is the best place for him to grow up and know God. I have hope that they will stay active and Johan will go on a mission.
That same Saturday. we had taken a bus from lunch to another appointment. We weren't sure what bus to take so we sat there for almost ten minutes trying to figure out which one to take. Finally we got on the bus and the kid collecting the toll was a less active member, so I talked with him for a while. When we got to our stop the bus driver didn't stop but kept going until we got to stop in front of our chapel. We got off and started walking to the appointment, which we were late for. A lady turned around and asked if we were missionaries. She told us she was looking for a member of the church so she could find out more information. Her name is Maria. Here is Maria's story...
Maria learned about the church in Ecuador. She went to church, listened to the missionaries and had her baptismal interview and the next day she was going to be baptized. Her parents forbade it, so out of respect for them, she didn't get baptized the next day, but promised the missionaries that she would get baptized as soon as she could here in Colombia.
On her way back from Ecuador to Colombia she stopped by a place to learn more about where the church was located in her town. The members told her that there weren't any member's in her little secluded town. The closest chapel from where she lived was ours which is four hours away from her town. A couple weeks later she left Saturday morning to find the church to attend, and hopefully be baptized. When she got here to Bucaramanga that afternoon she started walking looking for the church. When we had got there, she had been waiting for only five minutes. It truly was a miracle. We rarely pass by the chapel because it's in a part of our area that is all comerical. So we were truly guided by the Lord to find her.
She most likely we come back next week, the last week of my mission, from her small little town to be baptized.
The other day we passed by a house that I had visited before when I was here for the first time. Because She was a Doctor she had very little time so she never progressed. But we decided to knock the door to see what happens. She came out with big sunglasses, and I thought, well this is weird. Soon we learned by the falling tears, that she was wearing them trying to cover up her tears. She told us that she was having a lot of problems at work and she was very depressed. We promised her blessings if she would listen to our message and go to church again. She recognized that Lord had sent us and we set a visit. We went back this last Sunday and she told me what had happened after I left. We started talking about baptism, and she said that that afternoon when we had stopped by she went back into the house and started to think about what had happened, and figure out what God was trying to tell her. She then started to think about baptism, and felt a calming presence, she said
"it was like having my best friend at my side, something I haven't felt for over six years." I then asked her what had happened six years ago, and she said that her dad had passed away. This was the first time since, that she had felt his presence. The spirit was there, and it just so happened to be that brother that I was on splits with his mom had died exactly years ago from that day, and he told us how that had an effect on the reason why he was got baptized. The Spirit was super strong, and she then excepted a baptismal date. We have an appointment with her tonight.
Continually feeling my days and hours guided by the Lord just makes me want to live in such away that It can stay like that after the mission.
Les amo muchismo.
e. adams
p.s. ill be sure and write a good letter next week.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
More last this and that
familia,
we just got back from Bogota at like 1 in the morning, after a 12 hour bus ride. fun stuff! Because all of the missionaries from bucaramanga went, we rented a charter bus and filled it with 40 missionaries. It was a fun trip. And the conference with elder walter f. gonzalez was great. That man is super inspired, it was basically just a question and answer session. I did like one thing he said a lot. He told us how many times we think that if someone doesn't accept the gospel in this life they are going to have that oportunity in the spirit world to accept it. He said the doctrine of the secound chance doesn't exisit. Meaning that some might just have once chance at recieving the gospel, and if they reject it, they aren't guranteed another oportunity. This made me realize how important it to be direct in telling the people how absolutely important this message is. And how it will completely change the course of their eternity, that the their time to repent is always now.
The whole trip hit me pretty hard in realizing that my time is running up. Because the whole mission got together, I took a picture with every companion
I have had that is still in the mission. Saying goodbye knowing that I won't see almost all of them ever again. I heard my self repeatly saying ''welp, see you in ... chile / peru / ecuador / paraguay / argentina'', notcing in the same moment that might not be true. I really developed love for everyone of my companion's no matter how hard or how different we seemed.
But it was also comforting to know when they talked about not wasiting your time in the mission so you don't have to look back with regrets. In my heart i know that I haven't wasted this last two years of the Lord's time, and a conformting feeling told me that the Lord is pleased with my work.
Last week I was able to have a great experience in a baptismal interview a of a 24 year old girl that had gotten to know the church in the past couple months. And she told me about her conversion. She said a little bit over six months ago she didn't believe in God, but one day she started talking with a class mate about religion, and the at first she just started to listen. Little by little he started to explain to her more, and one day he started reading to her in Galatians about the works of the flesh ''which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.''
And when he read these verses she felt a complete emptiness and guilt and felt that Paul was describing her, and for a while she felt that pain in her chest, and then she started to ask for forgiviness through prayer, and started to feel light and forgiveness. With out going into any religion she started to talk with God, and let his spirit work in her telling her the things she had to change. and as she explained her conversion, i could now see the fruits of the Spirit in her, which are ''love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law''. And I know she was repentented and I understood more clearly what repentence is. In greek, the work repentence means, change, or more specifailly a change of heart and mind. And that is exaclty what happend. The works of the flesh had gave way to the fruits of the Spirit. That is what true repentence is.
Haha, mom i laughed when you told me that were washing me clothes. hahaha. soo cute.
Great to hear about clay!
Thanks for all you do for me. I love you all.
Love,
jake, formaly known as elder adams
we just got back from Bogota at like 1 in the morning, after a 12 hour bus ride. fun stuff! Because all of the missionaries from bucaramanga went, we rented a charter bus and filled it with 40 missionaries. It was a fun trip. And the conference with elder walter f. gonzalez was great. That man is super inspired, it was basically just a question and answer session. I did like one thing he said a lot. He told us how many times we think that if someone doesn't accept the gospel in this life they are going to have that oportunity in the spirit world to accept it. He said the doctrine of the secound chance doesn't exisit. Meaning that some might just have once chance at recieving the gospel, and if they reject it, they aren't guranteed another oportunity. This made me realize how important it to be direct in telling the people how absolutely important this message is. And how it will completely change the course of their eternity, that the their time to repent is always now.
The whole trip hit me pretty hard in realizing that my time is running up. Because the whole mission got together, I took a picture with every companion
I have had that is still in the mission. Saying goodbye knowing that I won't see almost all of them ever again. I heard my self repeatly saying ''welp, see you in ... chile / peru / ecuador / paraguay / argentina'', notcing in the same moment that might not be true. I really developed love for everyone of my companion's no matter how hard or how different we seemed.
But it was also comforting to know when they talked about not wasiting your time in the mission so you don't have to look back with regrets. In my heart i know that I haven't wasted this last two years of the Lord's time, and a conformting feeling told me that the Lord is pleased with my work.
Last week I was able to have a great experience in a baptismal interview a of a 24 year old girl that had gotten to know the church in the past couple months. And she told me about her conversion. She said a little bit over six months ago she didn't believe in God, but one day she started talking with a class mate about religion, and the at first she just started to listen. Little by little he started to explain to her more, and one day he started reading to her in Galatians about the works of the flesh ''which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.''
And when he read these verses she felt a complete emptiness and guilt and felt that Paul was describing her, and for a while she felt that pain in her chest, and then she started to ask for forgiviness through prayer, and started to feel light and forgiveness. With out going into any religion she started to talk with God, and let his spirit work in her telling her the things she had to change. and as she explained her conversion, i could now see the fruits of the Spirit in her, which are ''love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law''. And I know she was repentented and I understood more clearly what repentence is. In greek, the work repentence means, change, or more specifailly a change of heart and mind. And that is exaclty what happend. The works of the flesh had gave way to the fruits of the Spirit. That is what true repentence is.
Haha, mom i laughed when you told me that were washing me clothes. hahaha. soo cute.
Great to hear about clay!
Thanks for all you do for me. I love you all.
Love,
jake, formaly known as elder adams
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Don't be scared of the truth!
Familia,
Super great to hear that Elder Josh is helping his friends learn about the gospel. I hope you know Josh how important your actions are in helping your friend learn about the church and later take decision to change their life such as through baptism. It might not have a instant effect, but they will alway remember you when they hear anything about the church. And remember that people are x 8 to goin the church if they have an active member friend. I remember when the nervous and shaky conversation that i would have about the church with non member friends, and then later feeling like a blew it. But you wont ever mess up if you just tell people what you know, how much the Gospel has blessed our family, and how it has helped you understand more about God. I remember especially one of those shaky conversation that i had before the mission in the car with one friend, she later told me it was one of the powerful convincing moments she had before she got baptized. Lesson learned --- don't ever be scared to talk about the truth.
And speaking of Josh, were teaching a nine year old boy right now that reminds me of Josh when he a little boy. Super awesome kid. Ha we had an activity last week and he got up and sung ranchera(mexican music), with the big deep voice and everything. best ever!
Next week were all going to bogota for a two day conference with Elder Walter F. Gonzalez y Elder marcos B. Nash. Elder Scott couldn't come, it's a big bummer, but it's still going to be great, so i'll probably write thursday next week. so heads up!
Welp that's about it... Love you guys so much!
e. adams
Super great to hear that Elder Josh is helping his friends learn about the gospel. I hope you know Josh how important your actions are in helping your friend learn about the church and later take decision to change their life such as through baptism. It might not have a instant effect, but they will alway remember you when they hear anything about the church. And remember that people are x 8 to goin the church if they have an active member friend. I remember when the nervous and shaky conversation that i would have about the church with non member friends, and then later feeling like a blew it. But you wont ever mess up if you just tell people what you know, how much the Gospel has blessed our family, and how it has helped you understand more about God. I remember especially one of those shaky conversation that i had before the mission in the car with one friend, she later told me it was one of the powerful convincing moments she had before she got baptized. Lesson learned --- don't ever be scared to talk about the truth.
And speaking of Josh, were teaching a nine year old boy right now that reminds me of Josh when he a little boy. Super awesome kid. Ha we had an activity last week and he got up and sung ranchera(mexican music), with the big deep voice and everything. best ever!
Next week were all going to bogota for a two day conference with Elder Walter F. Gonzalez y Elder marcos B. Nash. Elder Scott couldn't come, it's a big bummer, but it's still going to be great, so i'll probably write thursday next week. so heads up!
Welp that's about it... Love you guys so much!
e. adams
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Family of 7 all over age 8!!!
Familia mia,
It was great talking to you guys this last Sunday for mother's day! You all look great! the only down side is I now don't know what to write! Shoot! Nevertheless I'm so glad that Mom had a great mother's day. Fun fact: A dozen roses cost like 3 dollars here!
I forgot to tell you about a family we are teaching and helping get married to be baptised, The Moreno Family. They're a family of 7 all of which are older than 8, and the best part is the Dad is the best investigator of all of them! They have some struggles but they have seen the changes in their home thanks to the restored gospel and are excited to keep progressing.
I've been running into my old investigators here all over the place. I guess we'll see how it goes. I have a friend that went back to his first area here in the mission, and through looking for his old investigators baptised 15 people. Nuts!
It's also been funny to see how much tolerable i am to walking now. What once seem liked an eternity walk when i was firsted here, the same distance now is facilismo! Haha I use to tell elder's that this was the biggest area in the mission, but that's just because I got so tired walking then.
The elder's name is Elder Melendez, just gotta send it to the office and they'll send it to him. I don't think he's ever gotten a package in the mission so it should be great!
Welp I'm dried up news! I love you guys x a billion!
can't stop won't stop.
e. adams
p.s the picture is of when i was in Socorro that I wrote about like 3 weeks ago.
It was great talking to you guys this last Sunday for mother's day! You all look great! the only down side is I now don't know what to write! Shoot! Nevertheless I'm so glad that Mom had a great mother's day. Fun fact: A dozen roses cost like 3 dollars here!
I forgot to tell you about a family we are teaching and helping get married to be baptised, The Moreno Family. They're a family of 7 all of which are older than 8, and the best part is the Dad is the best investigator of all of them! They have some struggles but they have seen the changes in their home thanks to the restored gospel and are excited to keep progressing.
I've been running into my old investigators here all over the place. I guess we'll see how it goes. I have a friend that went back to his first area here in the mission, and through looking for his old investigators baptised 15 people. Nuts!
It's also been funny to see how much tolerable i am to walking now. What once seem liked an eternity walk when i was firsted here, the same distance now is facilismo! Haha I use to tell elder's that this was the biggest area in the mission, but that's just because I got so tired walking then.
The elder's name is Elder Melendez, just gotta send it to the office and they'll send it to him. I don't think he's ever gotten a package in the mission so it should be great!
Welp I'm dried up news! I love you guys x a billion!
can't stop won't stop.
e. adams
p.s the picture is of when i was in Socorro that I wrote about like 3 weeks ago.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Last transfer of the mission
Welp! last mission transfer of my life. We thought transfers were going to be next week but they pulled out the curve ball Monday night telling us that we were going to have transfers today (Wednesday). It was pretty surprised for the change, after talking with president i thought i was going to finish in cañaveral, but i guess the Lord had different plans for me, and sent me back to the area where I started the mission, here in Bucaramanga --- Central.
It was pretty weird knowing the area more than my companion who was already here, and the old faces. When we walked in to lunch and I started talking with the same sister that gave us lunch every other week i was blown away by how fast everything has happened. el tiempo voló.
Anyways, my new companion here is Elder Ariza, he's got like 3 months in the mission. smart kid. like the way he teaches. were going to learn a lot together. He's from Barranquilla, it's one of the biggest cities in Colombia that is on the Mexican gulf coast. good kid.
As for the important question --- i don't know! haha, i assume I'll get on at like 4 in the afternoon Domingo, and I'll call Saturday to verify around the same time. I noted down your cell phone number's, mom and dad. let me know if you wanted me to call a different one.
Sorry for the short letter, but i gotta go!
I love you all so much!
til' mother`s day!
e. adams
It was pretty weird knowing the area more than my companion who was already here, and the old faces. When we walked in to lunch and I started talking with the same sister that gave us lunch every other week i was blown away by how fast everything has happened. el tiempo voló.
Anyways, my new companion here is Elder Ariza, he's got like 3 months in the mission. smart kid. like the way he teaches. were going to learn a lot together. He's from Barranquilla, it's one of the biggest cities in Colombia that is on the Mexican gulf coast. good kid.
As for the important question --- i don't know! haha, i assume I'll get on at like 4 in the afternoon Domingo, and I'll call Saturday to verify around the same time. I noted down your cell phone number's, mom and dad. let me know if you wanted me to call a different one.
Sorry for the short letter, but i gotta go!
I love you all so much!
til' mother`s day!
e. adams
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Field is white
Great pictures! There is not even a speckle of easter egg tradition here in Colombia, that is until i got my package of peeps and plastic Easter eggs! Haha, the whole egg coloring doesn't work because they almost only use brown eggs here, but great attempt! I've got a theory going on after looking at the pictures of Jess's kid's, Liz looks more like Jess, while Alaina looks more like devon. How about it?!?! And a big congrats to Jess and Devon on the big news! I'm rooting for a new nephew! Go Team!
As for easter here in colombia, the emphasis is defiantly placed on friday, honoring the death of Christ, kind of sad. 99% of the stores were closed. impressive.
As for changes, they've been put off for a week because of new arrival time of new missionaries. So my ultimate transfer will be just 5 weeks. can't stop wont stop!
Also the big news in the mission: Elder Richard G Scott is coming to la mision colombia bogotá norte on the 25 of may! What's UP! He will be accompanied by Elder Marcus B. Nash and Elder Walter F. Gonzalez = the best! I'm pumped. The whole mission is going to get to together in Bogota, that's the first time it has happened in my mission.
This last two days we were in a little town called San Gil doing a baptismal interview and interchanges, it's about 3 hours away. It was awesome. I went with one of my good friends in the mission, Elder Centurion, to another town about 30 minutes away. It hasn't had missionaries there for about 10 years, and this next transfer Pres. is going to open it, so we were pumped trying to find new people for the next transfer. We had an excellent day. The town is absolutely majestic. on one side of the valley is the town, and other side is a huge mountain, it's unreal. It was one of my favorite day's of the mission. I thought a little bit about how much I love Colombia. it's unbelievably beautiful. I will miss it so much. This afternoon as we came back on the bus, it passes on the ridge of a mountain looking down over the immense chicamoca canyon (wikipedia it!), they've told me it's one of the 7 natural wonders of the world (Last week i sent you guys a picture of it). On our way back to bucaramanga there was an American business man seated behind us that didn't know a lick of Spanish. I was amazed by his complete indifference as we passed by the canyon, he didn't even take a second from his filth, swearword filled conversation, to look at one of God's grand creation's. It makes me think about how many times we ignore, or pass by the beautiful things in life because were to engaged in monotony. Sometimes were to busy looking at the floor we don't notice the wonders above.
´´Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.´´´
You guys are the best!
I love you all! Pray for me!
e. adams
As for easter here in colombia, the emphasis is defiantly placed on friday, honoring the death of Christ, kind of sad. 99% of the stores were closed. impressive.
As for changes, they've been put off for a week because of new arrival time of new missionaries. So my ultimate transfer will be just 5 weeks. can't stop wont stop!
Also the big news in the mission: Elder Richard G Scott is coming to la mision colombia bogotá norte on the 25 of may! What's UP! He will be accompanied by Elder Marcus B. Nash and Elder Walter F. Gonzalez = the best! I'm pumped. The whole mission is going to get to together in Bogota, that's the first time it has happened in my mission.
This last two days we were in a little town called San Gil doing a baptismal interview and interchanges, it's about 3 hours away. It was awesome. I went with one of my good friends in the mission, Elder Centurion, to another town about 30 minutes away. It hasn't had missionaries there for about 10 years, and this next transfer Pres. is going to open it, so we were pumped trying to find new people for the next transfer. We had an excellent day. The town is absolutely majestic. on one side of the valley is the town, and other side is a huge mountain, it's unreal. It was one of my favorite day's of the mission. I thought a little bit about how much I love Colombia. it's unbelievably beautiful. I will miss it so much. This afternoon as we came back on the bus, it passes on the ridge of a mountain looking down over the immense chicamoca canyon (wikipedia it!), they've told me it's one of the 7 natural wonders of the world (Last week i sent you guys a picture of it). On our way back to bucaramanga there was an American business man seated behind us that didn't know a lick of Spanish. I was amazed by his complete indifference as we passed by the canyon, he didn't even take a second from his filth, swearword filled conversation, to look at one of God's grand creation's. It makes me think about how many times we ignore, or pass by the beautiful things in life because were to engaged in monotony. Sometimes were to busy looking at the floor we don't notice the wonders above.
´´Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.´´´
You guys are the best!
I love you all! Pray for me!
e. adams
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Loose his life for my sake shall find it
Of course I know who Rod Stweart is. I can imagine his funny looking face right now. I hope you had a super cool time at the concert.
About the plane seat, the office secrectary told me that everyone is one of us has scatered isle seats. Does Karen have the power to change that stuff? I would have loved an isle seat. but it's all gooood.
Mother's day came up fast no?! But yeah we can skype for sure. it'll be great! It's the 8th right?
Brett is back?! Whaaat. Give him a huge hug for me and tell him to hold on tight tell i get home in two months!
This week was great! We don't have many investigator's, but everyone that we do have has a baptismal date! So we have quiet a few people to help get baptized this month. One of our investigators invited us to eat dinner tonight with them. GREAT!
I'm sending fotos this week so I hope that makes up for my short letter!
I had a very interesting appointment yesterday, with a new convert from around February in the ward. He's about 20 years old. He likes the church, and feels that it is true along with the book of mormon. We started talking to him about a mission, and he quickly cut us off and told us that the mission isn`t for him. He told us that he lives with his parents that he is trying to gain independence and that two years was just ´´too much time´´ and would ruin his plans. And how he would come back from the mission without out a dime to his name, so he just can't do it.
When then opened up to matthew 16...
´´Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.´´
We waited for a momment as the spirt filled the room, and he understood it. He told us that it ment for him that if he went on the mission, God would take care of him and he would have new opportunities when he came back. But the stubbornness got the best of him as he then started coming up with excuess on why he didn't go, and i felt as though when we left he had the same idea about the mission as when we left. It frustrated me that he understood it but he just didn't have enough confidence in God to follow through. As I listened to him excuse himself from the instructions that God had just gaven him though the power of the Holy Ghost, i thought of the parable of the sower.
´´(some seeds) fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth.
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.´´
He understood, but he just couldn't accept it. I hope we can learn for this!
I love you all!!
e.adams
About the plane seat, the office secrectary told me that everyone is one of us has scatered isle seats. Does Karen have the power to change that stuff? I would have loved an isle seat. but it's all gooood.
Mother's day came up fast no?! But yeah we can skype for sure. it'll be great! It's the 8th right?
Brett is back?! Whaaat. Give him a huge hug for me and tell him to hold on tight tell i get home in two months!
This week was great! We don't have many investigator's, but everyone that we do have has a baptismal date! So we have quiet a few people to help get baptized this month. One of our investigators invited us to eat dinner tonight with them. GREAT!
I'm sending fotos this week so I hope that makes up for my short letter!
I had a very interesting appointment yesterday, with a new convert from around February in the ward. He's about 20 years old. He likes the church, and feels that it is true along with the book of mormon. We started talking to him about a mission, and he quickly cut us off and told us that the mission isn`t for him. He told us that he lives with his parents that he is trying to gain independence and that two years was just ´´too much time´´ and would ruin his plans. And how he would come back from the mission without out a dime to his name, so he just can't do it.
When then opened up to matthew 16...
´´Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.´´
We waited for a momment as the spirt filled the room, and he understood it. He told us that it ment for him that if he went on the mission, God would take care of him and he would have new opportunities when he came back. But the stubbornness got the best of him as he then started coming up with excuess on why he didn't go, and i felt as though when we left he had the same idea about the mission as when we left. It frustrated me that he understood it but he just didn't have enough confidence in God to follow through. As I listened to him excuse himself from the instructions that God had just gaven him though the power of the Holy Ghost, i thought of the parable of the sower.
´´(some seeds) fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth.
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.´´
He understood, but he just couldn't accept it. I hope we can learn for this!
I love you all!!
e.adams
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Listening learning and resolving
familia mia,
Great to here that Ramsey got his call to the Philippines! I'm sure he'll be a great missionary, like his brother, and well, his two sisters as well!
I'll be sure to pass that email over to Pres. Clayton's convert. I'm sure he'll be pumped to write him!
As for the weather her in Colombia, there is still quite a bit of rain. But as for Bucaramanga, it seems as though it is immune to freak storm patterns. It's great! Knock on wood! Tomorrow we have interviews with the president, so I'm going to slyly make comments like ´´i sure love this zone´´ or ´´I would love to finish my mission here´´, to try to but it in his head that he needs to leave me here for my last transfer. nevertheless, iré y haré.
As for summer, it seems like I got a pretty easy schedule, 3 classes, two of which i can take online. So I assume I'll be able to kick it with you guys pool side quiet a bit. That doesn't make the whole, be at home for three days idea sound as bad.
I've realized that lately that I just love to talk to be people and help them with their problems. As of a couple months ago I've completely changed my style of teaching, from talking and teaching to asking questions, listening, learning and resolving doubts and problems. I have learned the amount I talk is inversely related to how much they learn. My companion and I just sit down with the investigator and talk with them like a friend, forgetting the lesson and focusing completely on them trying to find out exactly how they need Christ in their lives and why they would want to come closer to Him. And as we listen attentively they will tell us exactly what they want to here, and then when we tell them what they want to here, they develop more faith and desire to complete the commitments that we give them. If I could find a career where i could just sit and talk and ask people questions and then help them solve their problems, I would be a happy worker.
Ran out of time. but don't worry! I'm super happy!
Love you all!
e. adams
P.S.
THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE!
I HAVE GREAT PICTURES BUT I FORGET MY CABLE! ILL TRY TO SEND THEM TO YOU SOON!
Great to here that Ramsey got his call to the Philippines! I'm sure he'll be a great missionary, like his brother, and well, his two sisters as well!
I'll be sure to pass that email over to Pres. Clayton's convert. I'm sure he'll be pumped to write him!
As for the weather her in Colombia, there is still quite a bit of rain. But as for Bucaramanga, it seems as though it is immune to freak storm patterns. It's great! Knock on wood! Tomorrow we have interviews with the president, so I'm going to slyly make comments like ´´i sure love this zone´´ or ´´I would love to finish my mission here´´, to try to but it in his head that he needs to leave me here for my last transfer. nevertheless, iré y haré.
As for summer, it seems like I got a pretty easy schedule, 3 classes, two of which i can take online. So I assume I'll be able to kick it with you guys pool side quiet a bit. That doesn't make the whole, be at home for three days idea sound as bad.
I've realized that lately that I just love to talk to be people and help them with their problems. As of a couple months ago I've completely changed my style of teaching, from talking and teaching to asking questions, listening, learning and resolving doubts and problems. I have learned the amount I talk is inversely related to how much they learn. My companion and I just sit down with the investigator and talk with them like a friend, forgetting the lesson and focusing completely on them trying to find out exactly how they need Christ in their lives and why they would want to come closer to Him. And as we listen attentively they will tell us exactly what they want to here, and then when we tell them what they want to here, they develop more faith and desire to complete the commitments that we give them. If I could find a career where i could just sit and talk and ask people questions and then help them solve their problems, I would be a happy worker.
Ran out of time. but don't worry! I'm super happy!
Love you all!
e. adams
P.S.
THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE!
I HAVE GREAT PICTURES BUT I FORGET MY CABLE! ILL TRY TO SEND THEM TO YOU SOON!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Conference through investigators eyes
oh familia,
I loved receiving letters from almost all of you about conference(minus josh, but i'm positive that he is going to redeem himself with a great letter for next week! right, right!?)
I also loved how everyone loved the same talks. being, elder scott and president monson's temple / marriage based talks. I guess that's what i get when everyone that write's me is madly in love! After Pres. Monson's priesthood talk, on of the brothers on my side lined and hit me on the shoulder and told me 创good luck!创 I quickly responded 创not yet创! I imagine the provo marriage presure scene is going to be on fire! yikes!
I think confrence is the best as a missionary. Because I have the oportunity to soke up revelation not only for me, but for my investigators as well. It's great, but the best is when the investigators that we take to church get their own inspiration. I'll tell you about it!
Mariela is a single mom of four kids. Three of her kids are already members, they were baptized about four years ago. She's seen the blessings of the gospel in the lives of her kids, but the whole church thing hasn't clicked, until now.
Monday we visited her with the bishop, she had some great words to share about church. like 创organized创 or 创divine创. We then asked if she had recieved an answer to her prayer about the book of mormon, she told us yes, and that elder bednar's talk had help her realize that sometimes those answers don't come as instantly like a light switch, but more like a sunrise. She feels sure about what she's doing and she's excited to get baptized the 30th of april with her youngest daughter. God blesses so much when we just act, when we do things.
Her in my new ward i found a brother that I just sat and watched and loved his enthusam for the gospel and service in the church, every time i looked at him he had a smile on his face, He later gave the class in the elder's quorom, and I loved how much he cared about the class. Later, when we were leaving church he asked me where i was from, I said Arizona, his eyes lit up, and he asked do you know Pres. Clayson!? He baptized me! He later pulled out of his triple combination of what looked like a weding anouncment of pres. clayson and sister clayson. I wasn't able to remember his name but he want's pres. clayson's email address. Small world no?!
Sorry about not writing you guys last week, I just couldn't find the time! forgive me. But i am now registered for summer and fall semester! Prep醨ese provo!
Thanks for eveything that you guys do for me! I love you all! And i'll try my best to write well for the rest of my mission!
youre the best!
Love,
e. adams
I loved receiving letters from almost all of you about conference(minus josh, but i'm positive that he is going to redeem himself with a great letter for next week! right, right!?)
I also loved how everyone loved the same talks. being, elder scott and president monson's temple / marriage based talks. I guess that's what i get when everyone that write's me is madly in love! After Pres. Monson's priesthood talk, on of the brothers on my side lined and hit me on the shoulder and told me 创good luck!创 I quickly responded 创not yet创! I imagine the provo marriage presure scene is going to be on fire! yikes!
I think confrence is the best as a missionary. Because I have the oportunity to soke up revelation not only for me, but for my investigators as well. It's great, but the best is when the investigators that we take to church get their own inspiration. I'll tell you about it!
Mariela is a single mom of four kids. Three of her kids are already members, they were baptized about four years ago. She's seen the blessings of the gospel in the lives of her kids, but the whole church thing hasn't clicked, until now.
Monday we visited her with the bishop, she had some great words to share about church. like 创organized创 or 创divine创. We then asked if she had recieved an answer to her prayer about the book of mormon, she told us yes, and that elder bednar's talk had help her realize that sometimes those answers don't come as instantly like a light switch, but more like a sunrise. She feels sure about what she's doing and she's excited to get baptized the 30th of april with her youngest daughter. God blesses so much when we just act, when we do things.
Her in my new ward i found a brother that I just sat and watched and loved his enthusam for the gospel and service in the church, every time i looked at him he had a smile on his face, He later gave the class in the elder's quorom, and I loved how much he cared about the class. Later, when we were leaving church he asked me where i was from, I said Arizona, his eyes lit up, and he asked do you know Pres. Clayson!? He baptized me! He later pulled out of his triple combination of what looked like a weding anouncment of pres. clayson and sister clayson. I wasn't able to remember his name but he want's pres. clayson's email address. Small world no?!
Sorry about not writing you guys last week, I just couldn't find the time! forgive me. But i am now registered for summer and fall semester! Prep醨ese provo!
Thanks for eveything that you guys do for me! I love you all! And i'll try my best to write well for the rest of my mission!
youre the best!
Love,
e. adams
Friday, March 25, 2011
Canaveral Transfer
We had changes this Wednesday so I was busy dropping off and taking elders to the bus terminal so I wasn't able to write. They changed up our whole zone, my companion went to Cucuta. I thought I was going to stay because i only have two weeks in the area, but I also was transferred. I was pretty bummed because I was loving the area, we have a bunch of investigators with baptismal dates, but what happen is the stake president lives in a different ward in the stake and he wants the zone leaders to be there to have more communication with us, so president moved us over there. It's like changing from the Lakewood ward to the foothills ward kind of a thing. But I'm sure it will be a great change. Right now I'm still here in Diamante showing elder seaton (he was with my in the mtc) the new area, and my new area is cañaveral, bucaramanga. We'll probably finish our missions together here in the same zone. CRAZY.
My new companion is elder sierra, he's from chili, super smart / cool kid. My goal to keep working the hardest i can for these last two transfers. can't stop wont stop. I never understood why elders get trunky. when your disobedient and lazy you feel bad, when your obedient and work you feel happy. You just gotta choose.
talk about current events. As missionaries we basically have to sift our way through the rumors, because we don't really have access those things. First i heard 200,000 killed in japan, but from what I have heard lately is more like 8,000? not sure. Also heard of nuclear plant expulsions? When we went to lunch the day it had happened we saw some of the images. Absolutely nuts.
One thing that has been hard for is instead of people mourning with them, they make up reasons why they deserved such things. This time they say its because they worship cats, in haiti its because of wickedness and prostitution. I guess human nature tells us that it's easier to judge than to succor.
Sorry for my short letter. next week I'll try to write longer and more understandable.
I love you all so much!
e. adams
p.s. GO BYU!
My new companion is elder sierra, he's from chili, super smart / cool kid. My goal to keep working the hardest i can for these last two transfers. can't stop wont stop. I never understood why elders get trunky. when your disobedient and lazy you feel bad, when your obedient and work you feel happy. You just gotta choose.
talk about current events. As missionaries we basically have to sift our way through the rumors, because we don't really have access those things. First i heard 200,000 killed in japan, but from what I have heard lately is more like 8,000? not sure. Also heard of nuclear plant expulsions? When we went to lunch the day it had happened we saw some of the images. Absolutely nuts.
One thing that has been hard for is instead of people mourning with them, they make up reasons why they deserved such things. This time they say its because they worship cats, in haiti its because of wickedness and prostitution. I guess human nature tells us that it's easier to judge than to succor.
Sorry for my short letter. next week I'll try to write longer and more understandable.
I love you all so much!
e. adams
p.s. GO BYU!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Come unto me
Glad to hear that it's starting to warm up, but don't forget those out of no where may snow storms that result in fallen branches on toyota camrys. beware. or, better said, ¡ojo!
The trek is great josh! I loved it but, I do lift up a voice of warning; be ye aware of polyester pants. (bad mistake.)
Welp i'm still loving bucaramanga. We woke up early sunday morning and were able to pick up a good share of investigators. We're working a lot with our ward mision leader --- coolest guy ever. Were going to have a noche de hogar (fmaily home evening) in his house tonight.
Yesterday we were talking with a family that was having a bunch of problems, and my companion had them read ether 12:27, which i've always loved, but he had them read just the first sentence that says ´´And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.´´
Make me realize something that I had never noticed in the verse before, that phrase ´´come unto me´´, And I realized how true it is. In the mission as I have progressed in time and testimony, the more and more i learn how much i need to fix and get better on, or to say my weaknesses. As we come more and more unto Christ, he lets us, he shows us, our weaknesses so we can become more and more perfect. And it completely agrees with the process of repentence that i see in our investigators. Our purpose as missionarys is to invite others to come unto Christ. This princple is crucial so that they can start to repent.
I ran out of time! But i still love you all!
Love,
e. adams
The trek is great josh! I loved it but, I do lift up a voice of warning; be ye aware of polyester pants. (bad mistake.)
Welp i'm still loving bucaramanga. We woke up early sunday morning and were able to pick up a good share of investigators. We're working a lot with our ward mision leader --- coolest guy ever. Were going to have a noche de hogar (fmaily home evening) in his house tonight.
Yesterday we were talking with a family that was having a bunch of problems, and my companion had them read ether 12:27, which i've always loved, but he had them read just the first sentence that says ´´And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.´´
Make me realize something that I had never noticed in the verse before, that phrase ´´come unto me´´, And I realized how true it is. In the mission as I have progressed in time and testimony, the more and more i learn how much i need to fix and get better on, or to say my weaknesses. As we come more and more unto Christ, he lets us, he shows us, our weaknesses so we can become more and more perfect. And it completely agrees with the process of repentence that i see in our investigators. Our purpose as missionarys is to invite others to come unto Christ. This princple is crucial so that they can start to repent.
I ran out of time! But i still love you all!
Love,
e. adams
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The spirit teaches
Familia!
I write you from my other home! Bucaramanga! Friday night we got a call telling us that we were having an emergancy transfer, that some elders weren't getting along, so they sent me here! best change ever! When i started the mission I knew i wanted to come back and finish it here in Bucaramanga. its the best. so different then Bogota. The ward is great too. My son, elder ramirez (the huge chilean), is a district leader here so we have interchanges with them tomorrow. I'm pumped to see how he's progressed after a year in the mission. My companion is elder zamora. the best! he's from ecuador. It's most likely that i'll have a new companion here in a week or so when there are actual transfers. It was a great four months with elder huaita. such a great kid. Probably one of my best companions. super stud.
I'll explain yesterday afternoon so you can understand how great Bucaramanga. We saw an area that my companion had never contacted so we went down to knock some doors. We knocked on about 5 doors and we had four lessons en a row. what's up! three of which invited us to come back and showed some potential. The people here are great. I believe its because of the temperture, and it Bogota it's got a lot of the big-city hard-to-trust syndrome. But I still love that city.
Mom, I already talked with an old companion that is going to be living up in provo for the summer. His name is Mike Larson. I just sent him an email so i'll try to get you the status and his phone number as quick as i can.
A couple days before I left Bogota we had a lesson with la familia buitrago, clara, the mom, and manuel, her 17 year old son. Every time we go to the house you just get overwhelmed with the spirit. Anyways, clara in the middle of the lesson after telling us how much she wants to get baptized, told us she wanted to know how Manuel felt about the whole baptism idea. So we asked him. He said he's thought about it everday. And he's thought about how many little things have been changing in his life over the past couple weeks, He told us that he use to say swear words in high school, and he's noticed that he's stopped doing that, and that he fells like he really has been changing and repenting. He's awesome. His mom is so proud of him that he walks to church with his book of mormon in his hand without caring what the other kids think. So when he told us this i started to think ´´when did we talk about using good language with him?´´ and I realized, never. It was only our 3rd lesson. I learned how important the Spirit and a personal desire to change is. When the people have those two things, they really don't need us too much, because when they complete with the commitements that we ask them to do, the spirit starts to work in them teaching them and showing them and helping them to change the little things. We can't teach them everything, but the Spirit is always there, helping them along the path.
''the Holy Ghost, ... will show unto you all things what ye should do.'' 2 nefi 32:5.
Thanks for everything that you do all do for me.
les quiero muchismo!
e. adams
I write you from my other home! Bucaramanga! Friday night we got a call telling us that we were having an emergancy transfer, that some elders weren't getting along, so they sent me here! best change ever! When i started the mission I knew i wanted to come back and finish it here in Bucaramanga. its the best. so different then Bogota. The ward is great too. My son, elder ramirez (the huge chilean), is a district leader here so we have interchanges with them tomorrow. I'm pumped to see how he's progressed after a year in the mission. My companion is elder zamora. the best! he's from ecuador. It's most likely that i'll have a new companion here in a week or so when there are actual transfers. It was a great four months with elder huaita. such a great kid. Probably one of my best companions. super stud.
I'll explain yesterday afternoon so you can understand how great Bucaramanga. We saw an area that my companion had never contacted so we went down to knock some doors. We knocked on about 5 doors and we had four lessons en a row. what's up! three of which invited us to come back and showed some potential. The people here are great. I believe its because of the temperture, and it Bogota it's got a lot of the big-city hard-to-trust syndrome. But I still love that city.
Mom, I already talked with an old companion that is going to be living up in provo for the summer. His name is Mike Larson. I just sent him an email so i'll try to get you the status and his phone number as quick as i can.
A couple days before I left Bogota we had a lesson with la familia buitrago, clara, the mom, and manuel, her 17 year old son. Every time we go to the house you just get overwhelmed with the spirit. Anyways, clara in the middle of the lesson after telling us how much she wants to get baptized, told us she wanted to know how Manuel felt about the whole baptism idea. So we asked him. He said he's thought about it everday. And he's thought about how many little things have been changing in his life over the past couple weeks, He told us that he use to say swear words in high school, and he's noticed that he's stopped doing that, and that he fells like he really has been changing and repenting. He's awesome. His mom is so proud of him that he walks to church with his book of mormon in his hand without caring what the other kids think. So when he told us this i started to think ´´when did we talk about using good language with him?´´ and I realized, never. It was only our 3rd lesson. I learned how important the Spirit and a personal desire to change is. When the people have those two things, they really don't need us too much, because when they complete with the commitements that we ask them to do, the spirit starts to work in them teaching them and showing them and helping them to change the little things. We can't teach them everything, but the Spirit is always there, helping them along the path.
''the Holy Ghost, ... will show unto you all things what ye should do.'' 2 nefi 32:5.
Thanks for everything that you do all do for me.
les quiero muchismo!
e. adams
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Converts progressing
Monday night I got on the Internet to do our progress report for the ward, and got there just in time to see that mom had emailed me to tell me that I got into BYU. the best!! It´s been one of my biggest goals. realized later that from 2007 I started trying to get into BYU. Feels great to be able to go back and immediately start to go after new goals. Thanks family for helping me out, especially MOM! You guys are the best.
I started to think that it´d be cool to stay home with you guys for the summer, but i realized that my admission depends on my attendance to summer term. Oh well, i´m sure it will just be a good excuse for you guys to come up to Utah to get away from the heat.... I hope.
I started looking at the classes i have to take and realized that I only have two generals left. Snikes. One of them being a writing class. HA, i thought it would be a good idea to acustomate me to English before taking that class. So I really have to start to think about what I want to major / do with my life. life's nuts. But I figure that I can really start to establish that when I get back for fall because i won´t be able to fill my schedule with generals anymore. But I´m super thankful that I´ve learned to depend and seek guidance from the Lord.
Last night while I was trying to get to sleep, I was thinking about the power of knowledge, and how it sets everyone apart. About how liberating it it is. How my vision of life and how it is completely enveloped in God´s plan changes everything for me. This week I was teaching a family we found while knocking doors in the rain, they told us they opened up the door for pity, but as we asked them questions concerning their lives and the gospel, that pity left and the spirit entered. One of the sons was studying to be a tattoo artist. I asked him what made him happy in life, he responded by saying that he has goals, projects in life and what makes him happy is striving to complete them. We told him that is great, but then we asked him how he is going to make him happy when he´s reached or left those goals. He sat for a second, and said that he had never really thought about it. I realized that we can never have true eternal happiness if we never have true eternal goals. That is why I feel that knowledge, testimony, changes everything.
This last week I was able to go back to Campiña(the area that i was at here in suba about a year ago for 6 months), and visit a bunch of my converts on divisions. It was super rewarding to see how some of them have progressed so much. Some have received the Melchizedek priesthood, some are getting ready to receive their patriarchal blessings, others preparing for temple marriage. My first baptism in Bucaramanga received her endowment in January. Others have fallen away from the path a little bit, but I still know that God is aware of them and some day he will call them back again, and they will have the opportunity to feel the blessings of the gospel in their lives.
Life is great. Suba is the best. We´re teaching 73 year old Jaime to get his life back on track. He´s made plans to get baptized the 19th of march.
I love you all x infinite
e. adams
I started to think that it´d be cool to stay home with you guys for the summer, but i realized that my admission depends on my attendance to summer term. Oh well, i´m sure it will just be a good excuse for you guys to come up to Utah to get away from the heat.... I hope.
I started looking at the classes i have to take and realized that I only have two generals left. Snikes. One of them being a writing class. HA, i thought it would be a good idea to acustomate me to English before taking that class. So I really have to start to think about what I want to major / do with my life. life's nuts. But I figure that I can really start to establish that when I get back for fall because i won´t be able to fill my schedule with generals anymore. But I´m super thankful that I´ve learned to depend and seek guidance from the Lord.
Last night while I was trying to get to sleep, I was thinking about the power of knowledge, and how it sets everyone apart. About how liberating it it is. How my vision of life and how it is completely enveloped in God´s plan changes everything for me. This week I was teaching a family we found while knocking doors in the rain, they told us they opened up the door for pity, but as we asked them questions concerning their lives and the gospel, that pity left and the spirit entered. One of the sons was studying to be a tattoo artist. I asked him what made him happy in life, he responded by saying that he has goals, projects in life and what makes him happy is striving to complete them. We told him that is great, but then we asked him how he is going to make him happy when he´s reached or left those goals. He sat for a second, and said that he had never really thought about it. I realized that we can never have true eternal happiness if we never have true eternal goals. That is why I feel that knowledge, testimony, changes everything.
This last week I was able to go back to Campiña(the area that i was at here in suba about a year ago for 6 months), and visit a bunch of my converts on divisions. It was super rewarding to see how some of them have progressed so much. Some have received the Melchizedek priesthood, some are getting ready to receive their patriarchal blessings, others preparing for temple marriage. My first baptism in Bucaramanga received her endowment in January. Others have fallen away from the path a little bit, but I still know that God is aware of them and some day he will call them back again, and they will have the opportunity to feel the blessings of the gospel in their lives.
Life is great. Suba is the best. We´re teaching 73 year old Jaime to get his life back on track. He´s made plans to get baptized the 19th of march.
I love you all x infinite
e. adams
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Lucifer's tools to destroy
familia
Hey! My apartment complex is called san marcos. cool! right? saint mark.
This week we taught a family that is being torn apart by problems with alcohol. They have two little kids. He wants to stop drinking but he fells unable being an alcoholic. I've learned that one of the biggest tools that Lucifer uses to destroy the family is substance abuse. It makes me so glad to be have the word of wisdom in my life. They literally take away the ability to chose and to think in a correct manner to save what they have left. I've met so many people that are imprisoned by substance abuse here, and the fruits have become some what normal such as domestic abuse. I was talking with some members yesterday and they talked so casually about men hitting their wives and visa versa, and that it was ''ok'', in some circumstances. It just made me so thankful to come from a home where that is not ok. I mean everything might not be said in a whisper but that contention never results to hits.
“And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will”.
We found a lady this week that her husband had left with her two kids for another. the week before he had kissed her goodbye and never came back for clothes or anything. As she was telling us what had happed her little four year old daughter came out of her bedroom and clang on to her mothers leg. It about ripped my heart out. We had the opportunity to give her a blessing and we came back the next day. She told us for the first time the whole week she was able to sleep alright, and that to talk and recieve council had helped her alot. We didn't have to many words to say, simply we just gave her a book of mormon and told her that it, acompanied by ernest prayer would help be the best medicine. She understood that through faith the Lord Jesus Christ she could overcome these dificult situations.
Even though it is hard to see people pass through things like these, it is ever more rewarding to see them overcome these hard times. And see how ´´they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob.´´
I love you all.
stay cool,
e. adams
Hey! My apartment complex is called san marcos. cool! right? saint mark.
This week we taught a family that is being torn apart by problems with alcohol. They have two little kids. He wants to stop drinking but he fells unable being an alcoholic. I've learned that one of the biggest tools that Lucifer uses to destroy the family is substance abuse. It makes me so glad to be have the word of wisdom in my life. They literally take away the ability to chose and to think in a correct manner to save what they have left. I've met so many people that are imprisoned by substance abuse here, and the fruits have become some what normal such as domestic abuse. I was talking with some members yesterday and they talked so casually about men hitting their wives and visa versa, and that it was ''ok'', in some circumstances. It just made me so thankful to come from a home where that is not ok. I mean everything might not be said in a whisper but that contention never results to hits.
“And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will”.
We found a lady this week that her husband had left with her two kids for another. the week before he had kissed her goodbye and never came back for clothes or anything. As she was telling us what had happed her little four year old daughter came out of her bedroom and clang on to her mothers leg. It about ripped my heart out. We had the opportunity to give her a blessing and we came back the next day. She told us for the first time the whole week she was able to sleep alright, and that to talk and recieve council had helped her alot. We didn't have to many words to say, simply we just gave her a book of mormon and told her that it, acompanied by ernest prayer would help be the best medicine. She understood that through faith the Lord Jesus Christ she could overcome these dificult situations.
Even though it is hard to see people pass through things like these, it is ever more rewarding to see them overcome these hard times. And see how ´´they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob.´´
I love you all.
stay cool,
e. adams
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Knowledge is liberating
Do they celebrate valentines day in Colombia?
Instead of celebrating valentines day, they make it the whole month of October! mes de amor y amistad! That's a bunch of love! As for my valentines day, just like every other holiday, I forgot and someone had to remind me. Happily Monday night I was in a meeting, and my whole group from the MTC was there. So we had 4 valentines! they were guys but, still cool! .....right!?
Yesterday i realized that there are only 3 elders that have more time my group. snikes.
I have been meaning to ask you, are the floods still an issue in Columbia? Did you ever have to deal with them?
They seem to have died down. My sector of Bogota is pretty well developed with the whole draining system. But some elders in Cucuta had to wade trough some knee deep water in some streets. FYI it's about to rain. but dont worry we got a covered soccer field booked at 2 in the afternoon!
This last Sunday we had a stake conference. We invited a family to go, they said they would go if we went to their church, we said ´´deal.´´ So they went to the stake conference, and yesterday, we went to their church. que cosa.
Basically, my experience yesterday just made me so glad to know where the truth is, because if I didn't I'd be standing up with my hands in the air for over an hour singing the same two songs. Lesson learned: Knowledge is liberating.
In that same conference we received a reference from other elders that a member had brought her family that lives in our area, and that her grandson wants to learn more. So later that day after an appointment fell through, we looked at the direction and realized it was on the other side of the alley. We went and enjoyed a great experience.
The Butrago family is a very well educated, just all around good family. They have always identified themselves with the catholic church. But the Felipe, 17 years old, told us that he likes how he feels in his grandma's church and they he wants to go back and learn more. Turned out he wasn't the only one. We knocked on the door and the dad let us right in. They had just finished lunch with a family from another ward. We talked with them for a little bit and they told they loved the conference. We then shared a message, the members there shared their testimonies, and the mom, Clara, shared with us how much she supported Felipe in his decision and that it would be a great blessing in his life, she then shared one of the most purest testimony I have heard. She told us how she had seen the blessings that her sister's family, that are members, have received and that she wants that for her family, and how she knew that if they keep going to church their family will be blessed too, and then she pleaded with her husband, holding his hand, with so much love so that he could open up his heart and learn more. He then told us that he believes what the church teaches is true, and that he wants all of his family to go to church and learn more. You could cut the Spirit with a knife it was so strong in that little room.
Thinking about how big of a impact Clara's sister family had on her made me thinking of the simple, one lined, definition of missionary work in la guia para las escrituras (which is like the topical guide in spanish). It states: ´´Misionary Work: To share the gospel of Jesus Christ by word and by example.´´
We are finding some great families. We're loving it.
I love you all!
Happy Valentines day!
e. adams
p.s. Great name choice Austin! viva Colombia!
Instead of celebrating valentines day, they make it the whole month of October! mes de amor y amistad! That's a bunch of love! As for my valentines day, just like every other holiday, I forgot and someone had to remind me. Happily Monday night I was in a meeting, and my whole group from the MTC was there. So we had 4 valentines! they were guys but, still cool! .....right!?
Yesterday i realized that there are only 3 elders that have more time my group. snikes.
I have been meaning to ask you, are the floods still an issue in Columbia? Did you ever have to deal with them?
They seem to have died down. My sector of Bogota is pretty well developed with the whole draining system. But some elders in Cucuta had to wade trough some knee deep water in some streets. FYI it's about to rain. but dont worry we got a covered soccer field booked at 2 in the afternoon!
This last Sunday we had a stake conference. We invited a family to go, they said they would go if we went to their church, we said ´´deal.´´ So they went to the stake conference, and yesterday, we went to their church. que cosa.
Basically, my experience yesterday just made me so glad to know where the truth is, because if I didn't I'd be standing up with my hands in the air for over an hour singing the same two songs. Lesson learned: Knowledge is liberating.
In that same conference we received a reference from other elders that a member had brought her family that lives in our area, and that her grandson wants to learn more. So later that day after an appointment fell through, we looked at the direction and realized it was on the other side of the alley. We went and enjoyed a great experience.
The Butrago family is a very well educated, just all around good family. They have always identified themselves with the catholic church. But the Felipe, 17 years old, told us that he likes how he feels in his grandma's church and they he wants to go back and learn more. Turned out he wasn't the only one. We knocked on the door and the dad let us right in. They had just finished lunch with a family from another ward. We talked with them for a little bit and they told they loved the conference. We then shared a message, the members there shared their testimonies, and the mom, Clara, shared with us how much she supported Felipe in his decision and that it would be a great blessing in his life, she then shared one of the most purest testimony I have heard. She told us how she had seen the blessings that her sister's family, that are members, have received and that she wants that for her family, and how she knew that if they keep going to church their family will be blessed too, and then she pleaded with her husband, holding his hand, with so much love so that he could open up his heart and learn more. He then told us that he believes what the church teaches is true, and that he wants all of his family to go to church and learn more. You could cut the Spirit with a knife it was so strong in that little room.
Thinking about how big of a impact Clara's sister family had on her made me thinking of the simple, one lined, definition of missionary work in la guia para las escrituras (which is like the topical guide in spanish). It states: ´´Misionary Work: To share the gospel of Jesus Christ by word and by example.´´
We are finding some great families. We're loving it.
I love you all!
Happy Valentines day!
e. adams
p.s. Great name choice Austin! viva Colombia!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Goals are so important!
Familia,
Emergency flight landing. four car pile up. Dad's the cat with 9 lives. So glad that your alright Pops. If you guys could just see the streets here in colombia. They got just one rule: there are no rules! what's up!
Welp we had changes this last Tuesday. Looks like I'll be staying here in suba for 6 more weeks. Elder Huaita is staying too! That'll be a good 4 1/2 months together. I was kind of waiting for a change. But I'm still stoked. We teach tooo good together. it's like a symphony. Just kidding, but we've been able to mold to each others style and we have had some really great experiences and lessons.
Anderson's baptism went great. We had a combined service in our district, there were 7 people baptized. Elder Martinez baptized for the first time. that kid is the best! I can't believe how awesome Anderson is. He had invited about half of the attendance. We're super pumped to take him over to our other investgators houses to testify. When he bore his testimony after the baptism he told everyone that he wanted to take what he felt in that momment and just give it to other people. He told us later that when he got home that night his sister asked him what happened, why did he look so white and vibrent. Goood stuff. I'm thinking future elder's quorom president. He's going to be an energizer to wake up this sleepy ward.
The other day we were walking to an apointment at about 730, when I asked my companion how many contacts we had done---19. Our goal was 20. We turned around and we contacted the first family that we found. We talked with them for a little bit and they said, ´´Hey, we live just around the corner, walk with us.´´ Turns out that that around the corner was two alleys outside of our area, but we were able to have a super spirtual lesson and we just knew that the Lord had placed them in our path. We taught about baptism, their answer: ´´Amen, of course we want to´´. I learned a great lesson about goals that day. Why we make goals, and that the lord test our faith to see if were willing to work to reach them. Who knows if it's the 20th that really will give our goal purpose, and if the Lord is just waiting for us to show our faith.
Thanks for everything!
i love you,
e. adams
Emergency flight landing. four car pile up. Dad's the cat with 9 lives. So glad that your alright Pops. If you guys could just see the streets here in colombia. They got just one rule: there are no rules! what's up!
Welp we had changes this last Tuesday. Looks like I'll be staying here in suba for 6 more weeks. Elder Huaita is staying too! That'll be a good 4 1/2 months together. I was kind of waiting for a change. But I'm still stoked. We teach tooo good together. it's like a symphony. Just kidding, but we've been able to mold to each others style and we have had some really great experiences and lessons.
Anderson's baptism went great. We had a combined service in our district, there were 7 people baptized. Elder Martinez baptized for the first time. that kid is the best! I can't believe how awesome Anderson is. He had invited about half of the attendance. We're super pumped to take him over to our other investgators houses to testify. When he bore his testimony after the baptism he told everyone that he wanted to take what he felt in that momment and just give it to other people. He told us later that when he got home that night his sister asked him what happened, why did he look so white and vibrent. Goood stuff. I'm thinking future elder's quorom president. He's going to be an energizer to wake up this sleepy ward.
The other day we were walking to an apointment at about 730, when I asked my companion how many contacts we had done---19. Our goal was 20. We turned around and we contacted the first family that we found. We talked with them for a little bit and they said, ´´Hey, we live just around the corner, walk with us.´´ Turns out that that around the corner was two alleys outside of our area, but we were able to have a super spirtual lesson and we just knew that the Lord had placed them in our path. We taught about baptism, their answer: ´´Amen, of course we want to´´. I learned a great lesson about goals that day. Why we make goals, and that the lord test our faith to see if were willing to work to reach them. Who knows if it's the 20th that really will give our goal purpose, and if the Lord is just waiting for us to show our faith.
Thanks for everything!
i love you,
e. adams
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Lord trust us
Familia,
Great to hear that Preston is tearing it up in t-ball---edgar renteria 2.0 (who is Colombian thank you very much).
Yesterday when we went to visit one of our investigators they had 5 new puppies and I thought of mamá tess. I loved the pictures you sent with the kids holding the pups. I can't believe how big Aliana is---crazy.
This week a new elder came from the states. He was serving in the Tempe mission for a couple weeks waiting for his visa. We went to go pick him up and he is now living in our house with his trainer. He's the best! I went on interchanges yesterday. His parents are from El Salvador so he already knew Spanish pretty well. He's very different from the other elders. It's a little hard to understand what he says, but when he talks, when he prays, there is power behind his words, so when he talks, people listen and feel.
This next week there are changes in the mission---about 20 heading home, 17 coming in---the most of which are gringos. I bet about half the mission is going to have a change. It's either my companion or me leaving. At least we'll both be here for the baptism of Anderson. He already has gone to church 3 times so we moved up his baptismal date, his response---''excelente''. Sunday we taught the combined 5th Sunday class, we gave everyone a book of Mormon to write their testimony and give it to a friend. Right after church he dropped it off to one of his friends and invited her to his baptism. I love hearing the changes that he's making in his life through the gospel. This guy is too good. He's now best friends with the bishop.
I don't think I've been in an area where I've seen more miracles than in this one. Last friday we were teaching Anderson when we got a call from a member in a different stake. She was in the area and wanted to present us to someone. His name is Luis, he's 20 years old, living alone here in Bogota. He's from a city in the Amazons and came here to better the life of his family. A couple days before someone robbed his backpack with absolutely everything of value that he owned, two months of rent, cell phone, identification. He entered a store where a member was working, told her about it, and that was the night we found him. Luis was looking for inner peace, more confidence in himself, and a greater faith in God. He found it that night in the restoration of the gospel and the book of Mormon. He's more sure about his answer then anything he's ever felt. He loved church Sunday, he's now friends with all the young adults, and that night he went with them to the commencement of institutes. Today we ate tacos with him. He absorbs everything we teach him. He loves the idea of being able to go on a mission. I had a strong feeling when we were teaching him that he's going to do great things in the service of the Lord.
Even though the ward here in Suba is suffering, were finding the the Lord's elect. And it makes my companion and I feel like God trust us. It's going to be hard to work with someone else besides elder huaita. we got some serious coaction going on. (props dad!)
Congrats on the new buy grandparents!
I love you all.
e. adams
Great to hear that Preston is tearing it up in t-ball---edgar renteria 2.0 (who is Colombian thank you very much).
Yesterday when we went to visit one of our investigators they had 5 new puppies and I thought of mamá tess. I loved the pictures you sent with the kids holding the pups. I can't believe how big Aliana is---crazy.
This week a new elder came from the states. He was serving in the Tempe mission for a couple weeks waiting for his visa. We went to go pick him up and he is now living in our house with his trainer. He's the best! I went on interchanges yesterday. His parents are from El Salvador so he already knew Spanish pretty well. He's very different from the other elders. It's a little hard to understand what he says, but when he talks, when he prays, there is power behind his words, so when he talks, people listen and feel.
This next week there are changes in the mission---about 20 heading home, 17 coming in---the most of which are gringos. I bet about half the mission is going to have a change. It's either my companion or me leaving. At least we'll both be here for the baptism of Anderson. He already has gone to church 3 times so we moved up his baptismal date, his response---''excelente''. Sunday we taught the combined 5th Sunday class, we gave everyone a book of Mormon to write their testimony and give it to a friend. Right after church he dropped it off to one of his friends and invited her to his baptism. I love hearing the changes that he's making in his life through the gospel. This guy is too good. He's now best friends with the bishop.
I don't think I've been in an area where I've seen more miracles than in this one. Last friday we were teaching Anderson when we got a call from a member in a different stake. She was in the area and wanted to present us to someone. His name is Luis, he's 20 years old, living alone here in Bogota. He's from a city in the Amazons and came here to better the life of his family. A couple days before someone robbed his backpack with absolutely everything of value that he owned, two months of rent, cell phone, identification. He entered a store where a member was working, told her about it, and that was the night we found him. Luis was looking for inner peace, more confidence in himself, and a greater faith in God. He found it that night in the restoration of the gospel and the book of Mormon. He's more sure about his answer then anything he's ever felt. He loved church Sunday, he's now friends with all the young adults, and that night he went with them to the commencement of institutes. Today we ate tacos with him. He absorbs everything we teach him. He loves the idea of being able to go on a mission. I had a strong feeling when we were teaching him that he's going to do great things in the service of the Lord.
Even though the ward here in Suba is suffering, were finding the the Lord's elect. And it makes my companion and I feel like God trust us. It's going to be hard to work with someone else besides elder huaita. we got some serious coaction going on. (props dad!)
Congrats on the new buy grandparents!
I love you all.
e. adams
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Dream
familia mia,
I did see that car. looks sawweet. Ready to shred through the snow.
another great week here in Suba. We had zone interviews with the president this last week. Me and my companion feel so blessed to be able to work with the missionaries in our zone. There are some with little time in the mission but blow my mind con tanto poder!
Jose Cardanas, the guy I mentioned in last letter, we found out had a huge addiction to coffee. If i haven't mentioned before, or if you haven't heard before, Colombia is famous for their coffee. and they drink it way to much. rice coffee and beans. if you don't have them, your lacking something. So as a result, Jose was absolutely addicted to coffee. He had given up smoking and beer, but he found the hardest was coffee. He was one of those people that just doesn't function with out their cup of coffee in the morning. So we taught him the word of wisdom, told him that this was his stumbling block to baptism, and that salvation was at stake. That the morning cup of coffee was now his enemy. He accepted to try his best to quit, and did just that. We called him two days later and he had not drank at all. the best. He's pumped for his baptism.
Anderson keeps coming to church with his tie and vest. He makes more inspired comments than the majority of the elders quorum. All-star.
Yesterday I went on divisions with elder sanhueza. He is one of the district leaders in our zone. super stud. He's known for working like a horse and baptizing. I was excited to go and learn from him. The whole day was just purely guided by the Spirit. Every lesson, so many inspired contacts that we made. The last appointment was my favorite.
We went to a noche de hogar (family home evening) with a mom and her three kids. Before we went to go pick up the sister, that referred them and is fellowshiping them, She works as a seamstress, and at the door of her store she has a handful of pamphlets and books of mormon. So I was already a big fan. In the noche de hogar we talked about the need to be baptized and follow the gospel, like it tells us in 2 nefi 31. Erica, the investigator, is super excited for the changes in her life that will come as result from being baptized. She told us that during lunch that day, she was talking with her kids about the great blessings they are going to receive if they stay faithful. She then told us about a dream she had a couple days ago. It reminded me of Lehi's dream.
She told us that she found herself on one side of a ragging river, and on the other side was the sister that had introduced her to the church. She wanted to cross the river but she was afraid because of the rapids. But then another member came by and helped her cross it and when they entered, the waters calmed and they were able to get to the other side. she found a bunch of members in a house and when she opened the door she found them all dressed in white and they offered her a plate of food to eat.
It made me think about how the people who receive the gospel with all their heart really feel about the people that bring it to them. They see them as angels, as life savers, they see them how Isaiah saw them,
''How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!''
This member later testified to Erica and her kids about how if they keep trying to follow the gospel a live better lives, their dad, who doesn't like to listen to the missionaries, we see the difference in them and will want to learn more about the church. Erica got super excited and in that moment i saw her as she really was, a humble, truly repented women, with a extraordinary faith that just wants to do what the Lord asks of her.
I felt so privileged to see what i saw and feel what i felt.
Thanks so much for all that you do for me.
My time in suba i feel is running up, i have to keep making the best of it.
I love you.
e. adams
I did see that car. looks sawweet. Ready to shred through the snow.
another great week here in Suba. We had zone interviews with the president this last week. Me and my companion feel so blessed to be able to work with the missionaries in our zone. There are some with little time in the mission but blow my mind con tanto poder!
Jose Cardanas, the guy I mentioned in last letter, we found out had a huge addiction to coffee. If i haven't mentioned before, or if you haven't heard before, Colombia is famous for their coffee. and they drink it way to much. rice coffee and beans. if you don't have them, your lacking something. So as a result, Jose was absolutely addicted to coffee. He had given up smoking and beer, but he found the hardest was coffee. He was one of those people that just doesn't function with out their cup of coffee in the morning. So we taught him the word of wisdom, told him that this was his stumbling block to baptism, and that salvation was at stake. That the morning cup of coffee was now his enemy. He accepted to try his best to quit, and did just that. We called him two days later and he had not drank at all. the best. He's pumped for his baptism.
Anderson keeps coming to church with his tie and vest. He makes more inspired comments than the majority of the elders quorum. All-star.
Yesterday I went on divisions with elder sanhueza. He is one of the district leaders in our zone. super stud. He's known for working like a horse and baptizing. I was excited to go and learn from him. The whole day was just purely guided by the Spirit. Every lesson, so many inspired contacts that we made. The last appointment was my favorite.
We went to a noche de hogar (family home evening) with a mom and her three kids. Before we went to go pick up the sister, that referred them and is fellowshiping them, She works as a seamstress, and at the door of her store she has a handful of pamphlets and books of mormon. So I was already a big fan. In the noche de hogar we talked about the need to be baptized and follow the gospel, like it tells us in 2 nefi 31. Erica, the investigator, is super excited for the changes in her life that will come as result from being baptized. She told us that during lunch that day, she was talking with her kids about the great blessings they are going to receive if they stay faithful. She then told us about a dream she had a couple days ago. It reminded me of Lehi's dream.
She told us that she found herself on one side of a ragging river, and on the other side was the sister that had introduced her to the church. She wanted to cross the river but she was afraid because of the rapids. But then another member came by and helped her cross it and when they entered, the waters calmed and they were able to get to the other side. she found a bunch of members in a house and when she opened the door she found them all dressed in white and they offered her a plate of food to eat.
It made me think about how the people who receive the gospel with all their heart really feel about the people that bring it to them. They see them as angels, as life savers, they see them how Isaiah saw them,
''How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!''
This member later testified to Erica and her kids about how if they keep trying to follow the gospel a live better lives, their dad, who doesn't like to listen to the missionaries, we see the difference in them and will want to learn more about the church. Erica got super excited and in that moment i saw her as she really was, a humble, truly repented women, with a extraordinary faith that just wants to do what the Lord asks of her.
I felt so privileged to see what i saw and feel what i felt.
Thanks so much for all that you do for me.
My time in suba i feel is running up, i have to keep making the best of it.
I love you.
e. adams
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Fruits of patience
Wow. Thats super sad about the Elder in Jamaica that was killed. I'm sure he's in a different paradise now. I remember when i was very little i thought it would be the best time to die while being a missionary becuase you get a straight way past the the celestial kingdom, becuase missonaries were ''perfect''. While, i've learnd that missionaries are not perfect, but i'm trying to live up to my childhood expectations.
But don't worry! i'm pretty sure i'll survive these last 5 months.
The changes....
we can't listen to music anymore. we had to send the mp3 players to the mision home.
Hearing that that return missionary is being interviewed monthly just give me more inciative to go straight to school. (btw mom, i forgot to mention, i think there is one elder here that has plans to study summer sesh in my group. i keep you posted)
Well the fruits of patience came the day after I wrote you guys. We found a old number in our cell phone,(the cell phone stays in the area so it was from the old missionarys), we called the guy and he was PUMPED. His name is anderson. The first thing he asked us was how we knew to call him, he asked us who gave us his number and why we called. He had been wanting to go to church for a while but just didn't know how to enter. Anyways, the first visit in his small apartment we recongized the hand of God and invited him to be baptized the 12 the febuary, he answered ¨I would love to!¨, he had decided this new year to change completely his life around and was just looking for the way. The second lesson, he told us ¨I feel so good here. when i read that book. I know its true. Just tell me what i have to do, and i'll do it.¨ He's going great. His energy and enthusasm for the gospel will change lives.
Next fruit, Jose Cardanas.
Yesterday we had to move around missionaries because of bad decissions of elders in other district, so when we finally were able to get to work our plans were messed up. I opened up my planner, looking for a contact that we could go visit, In the planner their is a section entitled 'Investigators', there i had put a name and an address of a lady, but i had no idea who she was or why i had put it there. So we decided to visit the house. We knocked the door asked for the name, he didn't respond, so we apoligized for confusing the house. But before we could say anything he told us to come in.
The lady was his wife that had left him over four months ago. About two years ago he along with his wife were almost baptized. But he got sacred and bailed out. The elders had past by for almost two years. We talked for a while, he wants his family back like it was. He wants to feel like he did when he was going to church and doing what God wants him to do. We invited him be bapitezd the 12 of febuary. He accepted. He told us that ''This time i'm not going to let this past me by.'' He wants us to visit him as much as we can to help him get his life back.
So many testimonies gained and prayers answered this week.
This really is the work of the Lord. There is nothing better. I love being able to parciapte everyday completing His purposes and being literaly guided by His hand. I've never found anything that makes me happier.
I love you all so much.
e. adams
But don't worry! i'm pretty sure i'll survive these last 5 months.
The changes....
we can't listen to music anymore. we had to send the mp3 players to the mision home.
Hearing that that return missionary is being interviewed monthly just give me more inciative to go straight to school. (btw mom, i forgot to mention, i think there is one elder here that has plans to study summer sesh in my group. i keep you posted)
Well the fruits of patience came the day after I wrote you guys. We found a old number in our cell phone,(the cell phone stays in the area so it was from the old missionarys), we called the guy and he was PUMPED. His name is anderson. The first thing he asked us was how we knew to call him, he asked us who gave us his number and why we called. He had been wanting to go to church for a while but just didn't know how to enter. Anyways, the first visit in his small apartment we recongized the hand of God and invited him to be baptized the 12 the febuary, he answered ¨I would love to!¨, he had decided this new year to change completely his life around and was just looking for the way. The second lesson, he told us ¨I feel so good here. when i read that book. I know its true. Just tell me what i have to do, and i'll do it.¨ He's going great. His energy and enthusasm for the gospel will change lives.
Next fruit, Jose Cardanas.
Yesterday we had to move around missionaries because of bad decissions of elders in other district, so when we finally were able to get to work our plans were messed up. I opened up my planner, looking for a contact that we could go visit, In the planner their is a section entitled 'Investigators', there i had put a name and an address of a lady, but i had no idea who she was or why i had put it there. So we decided to visit the house. We knocked the door asked for the name, he didn't respond, so we apoligized for confusing the house. But before we could say anything he told us to come in.
The lady was his wife that had left him over four months ago. About two years ago he along with his wife were almost baptized. But he got sacred and bailed out. The elders had past by for almost two years. We talked for a while, he wants his family back like it was. He wants to feel like he did when he was going to church and doing what God wants him to do. We invited him be bapitezd the 12 of febuary. He accepted. He told us that ''This time i'm not going to let this past me by.'' He wants us to visit him as much as we can to help him get his life back.
So many testimonies gained and prayers answered this week.
This really is the work of the Lord. There is nothing better. I love being able to parciapte everyday completing His purposes and being literaly guided by His hand. I've never found anything that makes me happier.
I love you all so much.
e. adams
Thursday, January 13, 2011
He lets us struggle
familia,
I loved the pictures of tess's puppies. I was thinking that you could name them pedro juan maria y marta---great name. The funny thing here is that they use alot of the the english names but spell them as though they were spanish name, like Jeisson (jason), Yaneth (Janet), Yesica (Jessica). or they use odder names, one of my companions had the first name of Edison, and another Ronald. It's great!
As for new years---fiesta!!! Everyone drinking, three days straight, no one to be found at home nor in the street. For new years we were not allowed to be outside past 9. It started getting sketchy at like 7 so i was pretty pumped to go back home, it was then followed by going to bed at 1030. I was never that big of a fan of new years. amateur night. The funny thing here in colombia is that it's one of the countries with the most recognized holidays in the world, and they move all the holidays to monday, and the majority they have absolutely no idea what they mean. This last monday was The day of the three kings?!?! random!
Things has changed a little in the misson. We've tightened up a little bit. The president has put some new rules to help us focus more on our purpose. Such as not being able to listen to music anymore (taken advantage of), and the p'day has been changed to wednesdays. Were seeing great results in our zone. diciembre - 0 , enero (probable) 22. So i'd say its worth the sacricfice to put first things first to get that much needed help from the Lord.
Things are going great with my companion. Our area has it's difficulties at the momment but we're are working at it. We're finding new investigators, little by little. It's just a little disapointing when our appointments in the night fall through and there isn't anyone to visit and it's a bit dangerous to contact people. But like in all things we just need to be patient and work hard to reach our goals. I was reading Elder Scott's talk from this last general conference. He said the following...
''With even your strongest faith, God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather, God will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you, when it will yield the greatest advantage. Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow.''
Sometimes we want to concentrate so much in the now, that we become unwilling to let God's hand work to shape us into what we need to be, and what we need to accomplish in the eternal scheme of things. Sometimes we want to progress faster than we seem to be able, and we see that the same old things keep pushing our buttons. But what has been hard for me, (and i believe it has to be similiar for others), is to see my own progress. But as Elder Scott encourges, ''You are making better progress than you realize.''
Thanks for everything you all do for me. I love you.
e. adams
I loved the pictures of tess's puppies. I was thinking that you could name them pedro juan maria y marta---great name. The funny thing here is that they use alot of the the english names but spell them as though they were spanish name, like Jeisson (jason), Yaneth (Janet), Yesica (Jessica). or they use odder names, one of my companions had the first name of Edison, and another Ronald. It's great!
As for new years---fiesta!!! Everyone drinking, three days straight, no one to be found at home nor in the street. For new years we were not allowed to be outside past 9. It started getting sketchy at like 7 so i was pretty pumped to go back home, it was then followed by going to bed at 1030. I was never that big of a fan of new years. amateur night. The funny thing here in colombia is that it's one of the countries with the most recognized holidays in the world, and they move all the holidays to monday, and the majority they have absolutely no idea what they mean. This last monday was The day of the three kings?!?! random!
Things has changed a little in the misson. We've tightened up a little bit. The president has put some new rules to help us focus more on our purpose. Such as not being able to listen to music anymore (taken advantage of), and the p'day has been changed to wednesdays. Were seeing great results in our zone. diciembre - 0 , enero (probable) 22. So i'd say its worth the sacricfice to put first things first to get that much needed help from the Lord.
Things are going great with my companion. Our area has it's difficulties at the momment but we're are working at it. We're finding new investigators, little by little. It's just a little disapointing when our appointments in the night fall through and there isn't anyone to visit and it's a bit dangerous to contact people. But like in all things we just need to be patient and work hard to reach our goals. I was reading Elder Scott's talk from this last general conference. He said the following...
''With even your strongest faith, God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather, God will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you, when it will yield the greatest advantage. Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow.''
Sometimes we want to concentrate so much in the now, that we become unwilling to let God's hand work to shape us into what we need to be, and what we need to accomplish in the eternal scheme of things. Sometimes we want to progress faster than we seem to be able, and we see that the same old things keep pushing our buttons. But what has been hard for me, (and i believe it has to be similiar for others), is to see my own progress. But as Elder Scott encourges, ''You are making better progress than you realize.''
Thanks for everything you all do for me. I love you.
e. adams
Monday, January 10, 2011
P-day changed to Wednesday
There has been allot of changes in the Colombia Bogota mission. One of them is changing p-days to Wednesday. Look for Jake's email then!
Monday, January 3, 2011
obediencia con exactitud
You should have stayed and skied so more!
I can't believe the killer storms they are having in Utah right now. Well, with all the rain they are having down here, it really isn't 'too' hard to imagine. I hope everyone got home safely and is enjoying the almost freezing arizona.
Here in the mission, zone and area we are on a re-building stage. In a couple minutes (sorry how have to keep this short) we have a meeting and i think there is going to be a lot of changes seen in the mission. (maybe no play football or listen to music. we'll see.) Because some people just take a advantage of rights, it's just how the world works. so when the rules are broken, it just inspires more rules and regulations.
We started early though in my the zone. We talked alot about obedience. In General Conference Pres. Monson said that it's alot easier to be obedient 100 % of the time then 98% of the time. Were trying to apply it---obediencia con exactitud---and its going great.
I'm sorry how short this is but that doesn't limit my love for you all.
You're the greatest people i know.
e. adams
I can't believe the killer storms they are having in Utah right now. Well, with all the rain they are having down here, it really isn't 'too' hard to imagine. I hope everyone got home safely and is enjoying the almost freezing arizona.
Here in the mission, zone and area we are on a re-building stage. In a couple minutes (sorry how have to keep this short) we have a meeting and i think there is going to be a lot of changes seen in the mission. (maybe no play football or listen to music. we'll see.) Because some people just take a advantage of rights, it's just how the world works. so when the rules are broken, it just inspires more rules and regulations.
We started early though in my the zone. We talked alot about obedience. In General Conference Pres. Monson said that it's alot easier to be obedient 100 % of the time then 98% of the time. Were trying to apply it---obediencia con exactitud---and its going great.
I'm sorry how short this is but that doesn't limit my love for you all.
You're the greatest people i know.
e. adams
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Elder Adams Testimony read in Foothills ward
I'm sorry, but i only had time to write this testimony for Mom. we have to leave early to go do a baptismal interview. Know that i am well and that this week we are going to have an all day christmas activity. twill be great.
I love you all.
e. adams
With my family, we decided the winter before I left on my mission to go to Las Vegas for the the BYU bowl game, they played Arizona, and yes, of course they lost. We went back to the hotel that night to leave early the next morning for Phoenix. Later that night I found myself alone in the room. I don't know why I had brought my book of Mormon, don't know why I started to read it that night, and I don't know why I turned to third nephi, but I did, and as I read the account of Nephi, the son of Nephi, waiting anxiously for the sign that Samuel the Lamanite had prophesied of the coming Christ, Those who did not believe had committed to kill those that did believe if the sign did not come. It was really a matter of life or death. So nephi began to pray fervently...
'' And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. '' (3 nefi 1:12-13)
As I read this verses an incredible power rushed through me. I had always gone to church, I participated in mutual and seminary. I had always believed in Christ, but for the first time I felt it, and understood the reality of it all. This new knowledge was like fire to my bones. From that moment, I now know that this Child was born. that Christ really did come to this world, that he lived, died, and lives again. That he was and is. This true message of Christmas has become the base of my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I am forever grateful for the Book of Mormon because it was though it that I gained a testimony of my Lord, which means everything to me!
e adams
I love you all.
e. adams
With my family, we decided the winter before I left on my mission to go to Las Vegas for the the BYU bowl game, they played Arizona, and yes, of course they lost. We went back to the hotel that night to leave early the next morning for Phoenix. Later that night I found myself alone in the room. I don't know why I had brought my book of Mormon, don't know why I started to read it that night, and I don't know why I turned to third nephi, but I did, and as I read the account of Nephi, the son of Nephi, waiting anxiously for the sign that Samuel the Lamanite had prophesied of the coming Christ, Those who did not believe had committed to kill those that did believe if the sign did not come. It was really a matter of life or death. So nephi began to pray fervently...
'' And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. '' (3 nefi 1:12-13)
As I read this verses an incredible power rushed through me. I had always gone to church, I participated in mutual and seminary. I had always believed in Christ, but for the first time I felt it, and understood the reality of it all. This new knowledge was like fire to my bones. From that moment, I now know that this Child was born. that Christ really did come to this world, that he lived, died, and lives again. That he was and is. This true message of Christmas has become the base of my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I am forever grateful for the Book of Mormon because it was though it that I gained a testimony of my Lord, which means everything to me!
e adams
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