Sasulieto, the little town on the other side of the golden gate bridge? Love that place. I went there with my buds when we went to San Fran. The truth is in that trip i fell in love.
Oh San Fran, thy golden arches, thy beloved chowder and cable trains, when will we meet again?
As for things here in Sogamoso -- El Sol --- lovin it! My companion is the best. The first couple days were a little quiet and awkward but now he's loosened up and now i'm lovin it. I'm still trying my best to be good district leader. There are four sisters in my district. ha its been great.
The state of the sogamoso, el sol ward was shown this past sunday. only 60 people showed up, of about 500 listed members, resulting from a handful of reasons, the biggest for me is that they start at 8 in the morning. I noticed that the spirits are down and there are notable contentions between the members. But i couldnt stop thinking about zions camp as i sat in the elders quorum. I felt as though the Lord has put these trials upon their backs because he has great plans for them. Were going to do our best to animate them and help them to understand what Job knew, that ''when he hath tried [us], [we] shall come forth as gold.''
I thought also of what i had heard in a talk by elder holland, when winston churchill spoke to england as Nazi forces were gaining ground and hopes were grime...
''I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land, and air, with all our might and with all our strength that God can give us. . . .That is our policy. You ask, What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory--victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror; victory, however long and hard the road may be...''
a couple days latter he said...
''We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender...''
I wish I could be like winston leanord spencer churchill when I find myselves in difficult times in the mission. We and this ward just need to fight to keep it from drowning. Try and give our blood, toil, tears, and sweat and the greatest work known to man.
But there is light here, the bishops great and we have a new ward mission leader ready to work. We were able to visit a faithfull couple heading for their 80's struggling with their health. It was evident that they are getting close to their last lap. But I was amazed by their faith. Hermano Leon told us that he cannot go to bed without reading a chapter of the book of mormon, noo matter how tired or sick he is. I was sure as we sat amazed by their faith filled stories that they will be able to say like Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"
I'm sorry if too many of my words where other people's words. But they're just sooo good.
I love you all soo much!!
keep the faith!!!
e. adams
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Idaho of Colombia
querida familia mia,
Business first: I recieved my change last night, it was different than what they had told me, nevertheless, i'm pumped. I'm going to the department above where i am serving, about four hours away from bogota, called sogamoso, boyaca. boyaca, is like the idaho of colombia : too many potatoes. I'm going to be helping out a district of us and sister missionaries. ha always an adventure dealing with sister missionaries. I'll be with a peruvian that has like 7 months in the mission. it's going to be the best.
Yes. or better, Yes! i was able to watch all sessions of conference. We had to leave my beloved faca for a couple days, to hear the voice of the Lord through his servants ths prophets, in Bogota. Our chapel house just isn't equipped with a satellite.
We need conference more often, one because there the most revelation packed days of my year, and two, because my WHOLE family write me. I'll have to send a letter.
Can you believe i only have one left before i come home? woah.
Anyways I loved every last bit of conference. And was able to watch 3/5 of it in english. I love spanish, but alot is lost in translation, especially jokes. Ha, i always feel sorry for the translators when Pres. Monson talks, because he always says things he didn't have planned. There was a good three minutes when the prophet began to talk and the interpreters took turns translating off hand what he was saying. Also, i love words, especially their words, and it just doesn't have the eloquence in the quickly translated spanish. So i'm grateful to be able to know english to hear the words directly from the prophet of God in the language of the restoration.
I loved all your conference highlights. I too, as well as my brother, liked what Pres. Erying said.. ”You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn, to repent, and then go and do whatever He asks.”
That is faith. I believe that most of leave conference with the desire to be better, but what matters most is that we do whatever it takes to come closer to the Lord.
and like all others, i loved this line by Pres. Monson. “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.” His talk made me think of my own prayers, which for the Lord might sound something like---give me give me give me. I felt the need to express my gratitude to others, and above all to God.
I also loved when Elder Holland spoke about a elderly women who said ”I've never been a leader in anything in the Church, i guess i've only been a helper”
He followed by saying bless your soul sister. It made me think alot about this sunday night phone call of changes. Some with aspirations to be a sr. companion, a district leader, a zone leader, etc. And when they don't receive what they wanted, they began to look at who received what they wanted, and target and criticize them. And i realize, what does that position matter? This sister is so much better of then when we think were great for the things that we've accomplished or think we should accomplish.
During the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions, I had a surprise baptismal interview outside of my district. His name is Juan, he's 12 years old. In what i thought was going to be a very casual interview turned out to be the most powerful one yet.
Juan had lost his father a couple months ago, and the hope of the gospel had brought them to the missionaries. I asked Juan, why he wanted to get baptized, without a second's delay, he told me so that he can be sealed to his Dad and family. I was overwhelmed by the Spirit showing me the love that Juan had for his dad, and his dad for him. We talked about how maybe his dad had to leave this earth for a relatively short time so that they can be together forever. I left so thankful for the experience that our Heavenly Father had given me to feel literally the prophesy of Malachi in action...
and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.
What a blessing we have to have a sealed family of generations upon generations. I want to follow what it says on the tombstone of the mother of Pres. Erying, ” Please, no empty seats.”
i love you all. and i'm so grateful for all that you do and have done for me.
e. adams
Business first: I recieved my change last night, it was different than what they had told me, nevertheless, i'm pumped. I'm going to the department above where i am serving, about four hours away from bogota, called sogamoso, boyaca. boyaca, is like the idaho of colombia : too many potatoes. I'm going to be helping out a district of us and sister missionaries. ha always an adventure dealing with sister missionaries. I'll be with a peruvian that has like 7 months in the mission. it's going to be the best.
Yes. or better, Yes! i was able to watch all sessions of conference. We had to leave my beloved faca for a couple days, to hear the voice of the Lord through his servants ths prophets, in Bogota. Our chapel house just isn't equipped with a satellite.
We need conference more often, one because there the most revelation packed days of my year, and two, because my WHOLE family write me. I'll have to send a letter.
Can you believe i only have one left before i come home? woah.
Anyways I loved every last bit of conference. And was able to watch 3/5 of it in english. I love spanish, but alot is lost in translation, especially jokes. Ha, i always feel sorry for the translators when Pres. Monson talks, because he always says things he didn't have planned. There was a good three minutes when the prophet began to talk and the interpreters took turns translating off hand what he was saying. Also, i love words, especially their words, and it just doesn't have the eloquence in the quickly translated spanish. So i'm grateful to be able to know english to hear the words directly from the prophet of God in the language of the restoration.
I loved all your conference highlights. I too, as well as my brother, liked what Pres. Erying said.. ”You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn, to repent, and then go and do whatever He asks.”
That is faith. I believe that most of leave conference with the desire to be better, but what matters most is that we do whatever it takes to come closer to the Lord.
and like all others, i loved this line by Pres. Monson. “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.” His talk made me think of my own prayers, which for the Lord might sound something like---give me give me give me. I felt the need to express my gratitude to others, and above all to God.
I also loved when Elder Holland spoke about a elderly women who said ”I've never been a leader in anything in the Church, i guess i've only been a helper”
He followed by saying bless your soul sister. It made me think alot about this sunday night phone call of changes. Some with aspirations to be a sr. companion, a district leader, a zone leader, etc. And when they don't receive what they wanted, they began to look at who received what they wanted, and target and criticize them. And i realize, what does that position matter? This sister is so much better of then when we think were great for the things that we've accomplished or think we should accomplish.
During the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions, I had a surprise baptismal interview outside of my district. His name is Juan, he's 12 years old. In what i thought was going to be a very casual interview turned out to be the most powerful one yet.
Juan had lost his father a couple months ago, and the hope of the gospel had brought them to the missionaries. I asked Juan, why he wanted to get baptized, without a second's delay, he told me so that he can be sealed to his Dad and family. I was overwhelmed by the Spirit showing me the love that Juan had for his dad, and his dad for him. We talked about how maybe his dad had to leave this earth for a relatively short time so that they can be together forever. I left so thankful for the experience that our Heavenly Father had given me to feel literally the prophesy of Malachi in action...
and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.
What a blessing we have to have a sealed family of generations upon generations. I want to follow what it says on the tombstone of the mother of Pres. Erying, ” Please, no empty seats.”
i love you all. and i'm so grateful for all that you do and have done for me.
e. adams
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Nurturing Roots
Q'hubo!
So yeah, we had two almost-all-day zone conferences monday and tuesday, and today, prepration day. Ha, we went to that theme park, salitre magico, again! so i'd send you pictures but i think i'd bore myself. just imagine going to a lame carnaval three times in 6 months and you know exactly what it feels like.
Yes, we have changes this coming week, and i have reason to believe that im headin' on out. If i had my druthers (yes i learned that phrase from grandpa) I'd like to go some where a little bit warmer. I hear cucuta is red like arizona, and hot like arizona, that'd be sweet. So you'll just have to wait till monday to here the startling news.
As of recently i've had the ocassional feeling that I repeat things that I've said in previous letters. Am I running out of material? uh oh. I bet my letters will just get shorter as my time dwindles by in the mission, so by my last letter home, i'll have NOTHING to say. just kidding. I'll try to keep it comin' strong.
In the training the assistants talk for a bit about conversion in the mission, they said it worried them why so many returned missionaries go in active. They based their training on the fact that missionaries often have their roots in the wrong place, or focused on the wrong things, such as numbers, position, etc, but said roots should be Jesus Christ and his atonement, The Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith.
I really liked what they were saying, and took note of it. President Hacking has said that 25% of missionaries go inactive within a year. But i feel as though, after pondering, and talking with my companion that it's more than that. It reminded me of something that I read Elder Nelson mention about the childern's song "I Am a Child of God".
He mention that, "when lyricist Naomi W. Randall first composed the words to this hymn, they read, "Teach me all that I must know, to live with him some day." Before he became President of the Church, President Spencer W. Kimball suggested that the word "know" be changed to "do." President Kimball, explaining why he wanted the change, and said, "To know isn't enough. The devils know and tremble; the devils know everything. We have to do something".
It made me think, even if we have good roots, that doesn't mean they are going to stay that way if we don't do something to keep them rich. It made me think about how Alma talked about that seed of faith that we have to nuture until it gives fruit, and then we have to keep nuturing it so it doesn't dry up. Well I don't really remember the words in english, but you get what I'm saying. We all have to keep nuturing our roots, by doing things, like reading the scriptures daily, going to church, praying, and serving others, or just living the Gospel. I thought how even if a redwood never recieved rain or sun, that even in its emenseness, its roots would dry up and it'd fall.
I believe it applies to everyone, if we don't nuture our tree, no matter how big or small, when the storms of life come, it just won't have the strong roots that it needs. So I invite you, my family, to nuture your roots, and make sure that they are in a sure place.
I love you all. I hope you know we have the best family in the world!
e. adams
So yeah, we had two almost-all-day zone conferences monday and tuesday, and today, prepration day. Ha, we went to that theme park, salitre magico, again! so i'd send you pictures but i think i'd bore myself. just imagine going to a lame carnaval three times in 6 months and you know exactly what it feels like.
Yes, we have changes this coming week, and i have reason to believe that im headin' on out. If i had my druthers (yes i learned that phrase from grandpa) I'd like to go some where a little bit warmer. I hear cucuta is red like arizona, and hot like arizona, that'd be sweet. So you'll just have to wait till monday to here the startling news.
As of recently i've had the ocassional feeling that I repeat things that I've said in previous letters. Am I running out of material? uh oh. I bet my letters will just get shorter as my time dwindles by in the mission, so by my last letter home, i'll have NOTHING to say. just kidding. I'll try to keep it comin' strong.
In the training the assistants talk for a bit about conversion in the mission, they said it worried them why so many returned missionaries go in active. They based their training on the fact that missionaries often have their roots in the wrong place, or focused on the wrong things, such as numbers, position, etc, but said roots should be Jesus Christ and his atonement, The Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith.
I really liked what they were saying, and took note of it. President Hacking has said that 25% of missionaries go inactive within a year. But i feel as though, after pondering, and talking with my companion that it's more than that. It reminded me of something that I read Elder Nelson mention about the childern's song "I Am a Child of God".
He mention that, "when lyricist Naomi W. Randall first composed the words to this hymn, they read, "Teach me all that I must know, to live with him some day." Before he became President of the Church, President Spencer W. Kimball suggested that the word "know" be changed to "do." President Kimball, explaining why he wanted the change, and said, "To know isn't enough. The devils know and tremble; the devils know everything. We have to do something".
It made me think, even if we have good roots, that doesn't mean they are going to stay that way if we don't do something to keep them rich. It made me think about how Alma talked about that seed of faith that we have to nuture until it gives fruit, and then we have to keep nuturing it so it doesn't dry up. Well I don't really remember the words in english, but you get what I'm saying. We all have to keep nuturing our roots, by doing things, like reading the scriptures daily, going to church, praying, and serving others, or just living the Gospel. I thought how even if a redwood never recieved rain or sun, that even in its emenseness, its roots would dry up and it'd fall.
I believe it applies to everyone, if we don't nuture our tree, no matter how big or small, when the storms of life come, it just won't have the strong roots that it needs. So I invite you, my family, to nuture your roots, and make sure that they are in a sure place.
I love you all. I hope you know we have the best family in the world!
e. adams
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wonderful Counselor
Elder Hathaway was blastin' one of Amy Grant's Christmas albums, and her rockin 80's synth version of 'Emmanuel' came on. My first thought: MOM!
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Wonderful, Counselor!
He's the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One!
I believe if we put all of Mom's Christmas on the computer it'd fill an 80 gig ipod. Mom, two more months and you will be whole once again, in ''the most wonderful time, of the year'' so says Amy Grant.
Right now were working on getting two family's married and baptized. Following the norm, the families are in what is called a Union Libre, or Free Union, which means they are not living the Law of Chastity. I'm pretty sure I'm going to come back to Colombia after the mission to be a Family Lawyer, because after helping six families get married, I've become more familiar with the in's and out's of the horribly organized system than any foreigner should ever know. Ha, the first miracle was when a birth certificate which was supposedly burnt, arrived here in Faca. The next challenge is of one our investigators who has no idea where he was registered, or his mom, and no one wants to tell us either... Welp, just gotta confide in the promise in matthew 19:26
'with God, all things are possible.'
Nevertheless, this man who doesn't know where he was registered is the best. His name is Jose Enrique. The bishop a couple weeks ago gave us a number and said 'hey, this guy wants to get baptized. here's his number and direction.' GOLDEN! Turns out about two weeks before he was release from prison. He was convicted to serve 11 years for raping his daughter. The Police doing what police do, they got him to plead guilty for something he didn't do. But three years into the sentence he was found innocent and was released. But 8 months before we found him, he got to know the church though an excommunicated prison mate, who's brother sends him materials from the church, such as triple combinations, bibles, liahonas, seminary manuals, hymnals, and so forth. And so every Sunday in the prison they would have their make shift sacrament meetings, even fast and testimony meetings. When we asked him if he had a book of mormon, he pulled out his triple combination, lds bible, and hymnal---best part---he had made covers for them all out of the prison uniform.
So we learn of the perfectness of God's plan, and how sometimes we have to suffer injustice, to fulfill the grand purposes of God. Maybe that would have been the only place that Jose Enrique would have accepted the gospel. And now he's on fire. He's willing to do anything to be baptized.
Congrats Dad on the big deal. I love the lesson on planning from that, 200 hours. my district has been pretty lazy when it comes to planning, but after we've done everything we can, when our backs are up against the wall, that's when the divine help comes. President Lee said to President Erying some time ago ''If you want revelation, do your homework.''
I love you all sooo much.
e. adams
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Wonderful, Counselor!
He's the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One!
I believe if we put all of Mom's Christmas on the computer it'd fill an 80 gig ipod. Mom, two more months and you will be whole once again, in ''the most wonderful time, of the year'' so says Amy Grant.
Right now were working on getting two family's married and baptized. Following the norm, the families are in what is called a Union Libre, or Free Union, which means they are not living the Law of Chastity. I'm pretty sure I'm going to come back to Colombia after the mission to be a Family Lawyer, because after helping six families get married, I've become more familiar with the in's and out's of the horribly organized system than any foreigner should ever know. Ha, the first miracle was when a birth certificate which was supposedly burnt, arrived here in Faca. The next challenge is of one our investigators who has no idea where he was registered, or his mom, and no one wants to tell us either... Welp, just gotta confide in the promise in matthew 19:26
'with God, all things are possible.'
Nevertheless, this man who doesn't know where he was registered is the best. His name is Jose Enrique. The bishop a couple weeks ago gave us a number and said 'hey, this guy wants to get baptized. here's his number and direction.' GOLDEN! Turns out about two weeks before he was release from prison. He was convicted to serve 11 years for raping his daughter. The Police doing what police do, they got him to plead guilty for something he didn't do. But three years into the sentence he was found innocent and was released. But 8 months before we found him, he got to know the church though an excommunicated prison mate, who's brother sends him materials from the church, such as triple combinations, bibles, liahonas, seminary manuals, hymnals, and so forth. And so every Sunday in the prison they would have their make shift sacrament meetings, even fast and testimony meetings. When we asked him if he had a book of mormon, he pulled out his triple combination, lds bible, and hymnal---best part---he had made covers for them all out of the prison uniform.
So we learn of the perfectness of God's plan, and how sometimes we have to suffer injustice, to fulfill the grand purposes of God. Maybe that would have been the only place that Jose Enrique would have accepted the gospel. And now he's on fire. He's willing to do anything to be baptized.
Congrats Dad on the big deal. I love the lesson on planning from that, 200 hours. my district has been pretty lazy when it comes to planning, but after we've done everything we can, when our backs are up against the wall, that's when the divine help comes. President Lee said to President Erying some time ago ''If you want revelation, do your homework.''
I love you all sooo much.
e. adams
Monday, September 13, 2010
Pictures are worth a 1000 or less words
You'll have to forgive me, i used all my time writing the essays. But hey! they say a picture's worth a thousand words!! so i'll send a couple! perdon perdon!!
Today i made new friends on my adventure into the wilderness with E. Ramirez in the back of our house.
pull over! no it's a cardigan but thanks for noticing!
BTW there's two more elders here in Faca = double the fun.
My next letter will be a giant.
I love you all.
e. adams
p.s. if you could send me collar stays that'd rock. As you can tell by the pictures there a bit floppy. i bet you could send them in a envelope??
Today i made new friends on my adventure into the wilderness with E. Ramirez in the back of our house.
pull over! no it's a cardigan but thanks for noticing!
BTW there's two more elders here in Faca = double the fun.
My next letter will be a giant.
I love you all.
e. adams
p.s. if you could send me collar stays that'd rock. As you can tell by the pictures there a bit floppy. i bet you could send them in a envelope??
Monday, September 6, 2010
Factativa is now a Ward
Still keepin it real here with my favorite paraguyan companion.
The Facatativa branch is now offically The Facatativa ward. Movin' on up. It was super cool to be here for it. I wanted to stay long enough to be able to see the magic. From the normal 85 persons that attend, this sunday bumped up to a big 168. What's up! There's talk about looking for land this week here in faca, and a possible two more missionaries to share the work. Right now our area is on fire! we went from a zero baptismal dates to 7. Were finding people like nuts. This sunday we recieved three references of people that want to get baptized. sooo goood!
The transition to a ward was filled with the Spirit. this change has been really important here. They made invitations, worked all week passing them out to the less actives. I love this branch, i mean ward.
The relief society went saturday to deep clean the chapelhouse we use. and our investigator Sandra was there on time at 930 ready to work. I've never seen a investigator sooo pumped and excited to be part of the Church. She in little less then a month feels as though the Church is already hers. She reffers to the Relief society in US and WE. she's the best. She tells everyone that everything we've taughter her ´seems perfect`. And that to her, the idea of baptism is the ´best thing` that could happen. With the little she has learned, tries to get all her family to live the gospel. Her daughter says shes nuts because she reads the book of mormon everyday for at least an hour. She tells us she knows its true because when she starts to read it she can't stop. And her husband is a maricle in his self. He's a former paramilitar (anti government forces). He gave him self in and now is sported by the goverment. When we first got there, he didn't even want to leave to talk with us, and now with the help of the Lord and a softened heart by the power of his wife, he know has a baptismal date for the 25 with his whole family. The last time we came he invited his neighbors to listen.
I love this work.
i love you all.
e. adams
The Facatativa branch is now offically The Facatativa ward. Movin' on up. It was super cool to be here for it. I wanted to stay long enough to be able to see the magic. From the normal 85 persons that attend, this sunday bumped up to a big 168. What's up! There's talk about looking for land this week here in faca, and a possible two more missionaries to share the work. Right now our area is on fire! we went from a zero baptismal dates to 7. Were finding people like nuts. This sunday we recieved three references of people that want to get baptized. sooo goood!
The transition to a ward was filled with the Spirit. this change has been really important here. They made invitations, worked all week passing them out to the less actives. I love this branch, i mean ward.
The relief society went saturday to deep clean the chapelhouse we use. and our investigator Sandra was there on time at 930 ready to work. I've never seen a investigator sooo pumped and excited to be part of the Church. She in little less then a month feels as though the Church is already hers. She reffers to the Relief society in US and WE. she's the best. She tells everyone that everything we've taughter her ´seems perfect`. And that to her, the idea of baptism is the ´best thing` that could happen. With the little she has learned, tries to get all her family to live the gospel. Her daughter says shes nuts because she reads the book of mormon everyday for at least an hour. She tells us she knows its true because when she starts to read it she can't stop. And her husband is a maricle in his self. He's a former paramilitar (anti government forces). He gave him self in and now is sported by the goverment. When we first got there, he didn't even want to leave to talk with us, and now with the help of the Lord and a softened heart by the power of his wife, he know has a baptismal date for the 25 with his whole family. The last time we came he invited his neighbors to listen.
I love this work.
i love you all.
e. adams
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