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.
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