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
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
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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