Thank You

Well it sounds like you guys had a great Christmas and that the Holidays are going great.  I do remember those treat things they were way good!  It was great talking to you guys and being able to hear your voice.  I think that we all have been blessed with the best Christmas gifts.  It was such a blessing to be able to be in the service of my Heavenly Father this Christmas.  Nothing can match the feelings of joy and peace that I felt.  I loved it so much!  Yes I went to Texas road house sorry.  It was Christmas Eve and me and my Comp didn't have a member dinner so we decided to spoil ourselves a little.  I just got a small steak.  My comp went all out and got a 20 oz. bone in steak.  That thing was huge! 

I wasn't able to buy my ukulele because the music store never got one in... I guess I will just have to wait... So transfers are this week.  We get moved on Thursday.  The transfer calls came Sunday though.  I will be getting transferred out of the swift creek area.  It's a sad day and it's going to be hard.  I love the people here so much.  I remember one of my teachers said, "You think it's hard to leave your family wait until you leave the people that you have served for two years it's so much harder."  I've only served these members and non-members for six months and I have grown to love the people so much.  I can't express how much they mean to me and how much I want them to be happy and to accept this gospel.  A mission is such a great blessing.  If there is anyone that is ever questioning if they should go on a mission or not my reply is YES! OF COURSE!  It's such a great blessing to be in the service of my God.  I'm glad that you liked the Christmas gift.  I tried to think of something that was meaningful.  What I'm going to try to do is about every month send home some pics that you can replace the old ones with if you want to.  I hope that everything is going great.  I love you all and care about you so much.  The reason why I said that we are all blessed with the greatest Christmas gifts this Christmas was because I was able to receive the best one ever.  It was to know that my family is a supportive righteous family that is striving to be the best that they can be.  It was such a sacred moment to be talking to Devin and for him to tell me that he was going to go to the Temple.  I have kept that very close to my heart.  I know that this church is true I know that my Savior Loves me and he loves all of his children.  I know that He is there by our sides always.  Let us always remember this happy times so that not if but when the storms come we can rely on the happiness and joy that we have felt this Christmas season.  I love you all so very much I thank you so much for the prayers in my behalf.  I love you and hope you have a great week.  I say these things in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.  Have an amazing week with lots of hugs and kisses from Virginia.

Elder Adams

I have no idea I won't know until the transfer meeting on thursday....

No.  We can't watch anything that doesn't have the church stamp on it.  Is it good?

um for dinner at 4:30 but we have to be in our house at 6 sharp. NO watching the ball drop.

No I didn't.  That is sweet.  as good as 17 miracles?

Wait are you serious!!!! NO!!! Man you ruined it!!!! hahahahahaha LOVE YOU

woah that's a bold statement you just made.

Well I got to go.  I love you have a great week.  Mwah hugs and kisses we will talk to you next week.

Merry Christmas

Well this week was a great one.  I just want to thank you for the package.  I got it and it is safe care.  The Granola was heaven sent.  It was such a blessing to be able to eat that on Sunday morning.  Thank you so much.  I know how much time and effort that takes to make so thank you.  I just want to send you my gratitude I am so thankful to have a loving family that supports me out here while I am on a mission.  I thank you so much for all that you do and all the prayers that are said in my be-half.  I thank you so very much.  This week was great.  We were able to be apart of a baptism for two little girls Cathleen and Brooke Smith. It was a miracle how we found them. It was one fast Sunday. Me and Elder McConnell had an appointment scheduled and we were ready go and teach this young man named EJ. We showed up to his house and he wasn't there. As we were walking away the spirit told me to go and tract the other side of the street. I wasn't sure why. I had spent some much time in that neighborhood, but we went and did it anyway. We knocked on the apartment and no one answered. We then turned to the next door that was right next to the first. We knocked on that one and waited. We were about ready to walk way when the first door opened and then a lady came around from the back of the second apartment. Elder McConnell talked to the first lady while I began talking to the lady that had come around the back side of the apartment. Come to find out the lady that I was talking to had been a member all of her life, she had become less active around her teenage years and wanted nothing to do with the Church. Just about a week before we had knocked on her door her and her mother were talking on the phone and her mom said that she was going to send someone over just not the missionaries. The Lord has a plan for all of us. We began talking with her and she invited us back for another time. We went back and started to teach her and the little girls. At first the mom was only there so that her little girls could get baptized. Now she is opening up the scriptures and reading with us. It has been such a great turn around for her. She has started to come back to church. This gospel is amazing but nothing happens because of us it's because of the spirit leading us to the houses that need us.  It was such a blessing to see them baptized.  I will probably be calling around 4 or 5 my time.  I guess I will call your phone because I have no other number.  I just would like to leave you with my testimony.  I know that this church is true.  I know that it's the spirit that does the work in this work.  As long as we are willing to humble ourselves and to follow the promptings that we receive we will be lead to the people that need us and know exactly what we need to say to them.  I know that my Savior Jesus Christ lives and that he loves each and everyone of us.  I know with all my heart that he loves us so much.  I love all of you and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.  I love you guys and hope you have a great week.  Talk to you on Wednesday.  With love from Virginia.

Elder Adams 

Luke 2

Ok obviously Dad told you about how fat I am getting.  Lets remember that that was right after Thanksgiving dinner.  I'm not super huge!  The only thing that is fitting a little tight is my pants and I think that's just because I'm on a bike 24/7 so I'm gaining muscle in my legs.  We can at least hope for that.  I don't have really any Christmas ideas.  Anything that you want to send me is great.  I will be sending you my Christmas present this week also so be looking for that.  I decided to do a family one.  For calling you for Christmas I will probably be calling around 5 or 6 eastern so that is 3 or 4 mountain time.  I don't think that you are suppose to send me anything for a Conference.  Which reminds me you need to call the mission office and let them know that your address changed.

Well this week was a great week in the area of Swift Creek.  We were able to teach Thadious again this week.  He is so solid and willing to hear about the Gospel.  We were able to take him on a church tour this week and then teach him some more about the Restoration of the Gospel.  He loved being able to hear about how the Gospel blesses families and how it brings them closer together.  We should be meeting with him again this week.  He set for baptism on January 11.  He was definitely prepared by our Heavenly Father for this step in his life.  It's crazy out here on a mission.  As long as you are working hard and being exactly obedient our Heavenly Father places people in out path that need the Gospel.   It is such an amazing blessing to be in the Service of my Heavenly Father.  Another man that we taught this week was Thomas Deets.  This guy is such an inspiration.  He is not a member of out church but his faith is so strong.  He has lung cancer and on Tuesday they decided if it's curable or how much time he has until he dies.  We had the opportunity to teach him about the Plan of Salvation.  It is such a humbling experience to teach someone that really needs to know of this doctrine.  The Lord for some reason put a 19 and 18 year old boy in a 53 year old mans house last night to teach him about the Plan of Salvation.  This was so humbling I wasn't sure what to say.  I did have very strong feeling come over me that Thomas will have the opportunity to accept this gospel in this life or in the life to come and that the Lord sent us there because we could bless his life.  In the life of a missionary you sometime feel like am I doing enough or am I just going through the motions.  It is at moments like those that you know with out a doubt that you are doing a work far greater than our understanding.  There are so many forces seen and unseen in this battle it's ridiculous.  It all comes down to whose side are we going to choose to be on.  This week we had zone conference.  We listened to a talk that was given by Elder Eyring he said, "Wake up the World with ripples of righteousness."  Our actions don't always have to be great or some grand thing.  All we need to worry about is if we are doing little acts of kindness/righteousness all through out our lives.  We may not see the out come or the fruits of our labors right away but we definitely will be able to see them someday.  I know that my Savior lives and that he is leading and guiding this Church to were it needs to go.  I know that He loves each and everyone of us.  This work is so amazing.  There are so many miracles everyday that I have the blessing to witness.

I wanted to close my letter this week with an invite to everyone who reads this.  Go to Luke 2 and read the Christmas story.  Identify all of the characters and list some attributes that you think that person has.  Then choose someone.  Choose someone who you want to try to be like in the Christmas story.  This people witnessed one of the greatest moments in history that impacted eternity.  They are so many great attributes.  Once you have identified the who and the what you want to be like identify the how.  What are you going to do to be more like that person this coming year.  I know that by doing this we will find ourselves at feet of our Savior.  I know that we will be able to obtain Godly attributes and consecrate ourselves more fully to the Lords work.  I know this to be true and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Everything is going great out here on a mission I love it out here.  Thank you for all the prayers in my behalf.  It is a blessing.  I love you all and hope that you have a great week. Hugs and kisses and much love from Virginia.

Elder Adams      

did you get a picture of the fam? if not that's ok

I got the pick.

Winter Storm

Ok sounds good.  The reason why I didn't but the Ukulele last week was because the music store didn't have one so they are ordering one.  It's going to be about $50.  Is that ok?

um could be today or sometime this week.

ok sounds good.  How's everything going with you?

dang that's crazy could you send me a picture of the family just Via e-mail?

Can you get me that picture?

doesn't matter just one that has all five of us in it.

Hello???? Can you get me that picture.  It doesn't matter how old it is.

that would be best

This week has been a tad bit weird weather wise.  We had 70 degrees all week until Saturday night and all of Sunday.  We had a winter storm come through this week and it was so funny you would have thought that the world was going to end.  Man everyone was freaking out.  They even canceled church and told us missionaries that if we were to go anywhere we needed to get a ride from a member.  I thought is was going to be some crazy storm and that I might actually get to see some snow... Not even close.  All it did was rain all day and get about 30 degrees.  I haven't really had to use my P-coat yet only to meeting and stuff.  Riding a bike keeps you pretty warm so all I wear is a long sleeve shirt, my waterproof jacket, some gloves, and my ear muffs.  It's really not to bad.  That's way sweet about the house it seems like it's moving along pretty quick.  That is so cool.  You guys will have to send me pictures of the inside when it's all done and you are all moved in.  That sounds great for what you plan to do with Mylee.  We were not able to watch the first presidency message because they canceled the watching of it out here due to weather.  It's pretty crazy.

We saw a lot of miracles in the area of Swift Creek this week.  It has been such a blessing to be on the Lords errand for the past five months.  We received a headquarters referral this week for a guy named Thadius and his fience Karin.  He had received a Book of Mormon from one of his friends and had began to read it but then he got fired from his job and accidentally left it at his job.  We were able to teach him the restoration on Thursday.  As we were teaching him we talked about how this gospel is going to bless him and his wife's marriage.  He then turned to her and said, "Wow doesn't this sound great sweetheart?"  The spirit was so strong in that room it was amazing.  We are meeting with them again tonight to teach them some more and hopefully set them for baptism.  The work out here is awesome.  It sometimes gets hard and discouraging but there is so much joy at the same time it is amazing.  I have learned a lot this week about myself.  I have realized that to many times I get caught up in routines and doing the same thing over and over again because I feel that it works.  I have made a new challenge to myself and I issue this to you guys to.  Stop living life as a robot and start loving life as a disciple of Christ.  We have the greatest message here on this earth.  We have been blessed with the opportunity to be first hand witnesses of the greatest work in the world.  The reason why I share this with you is because to many times it seems like we don't give enough gratitude to our Heavenly Father.  I love this work it is such an amazing blessing to be out here and to be serving the Lord.  I thank my Heavenly Father every day for being able to have been raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It is such a blessing to have the restored truth in my life to help me everyday accomplish the task that my Heavenly Father has for me and to fight against Satan.  Don't get discouraged when the battle gets tough or when we think that the task is to hard but rather look more to our Savior.  That is the purpose of all  our trials.  We can either choose misery or happiness.  Never ever get discouraged or think that you are alone.  We should be having a baptism this week for a young African American kid named Ej Shaw.  He's having a few doubts right now but we are praying and hoping that he will gain a testimony of this truth and choose to be baptized into this gospel.  I know that this church is true and I know that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us.  I know that our Savior lives with out a doubt.  I know that I am doing the Lords will by coming out here and choosing to serve him for two years.  I know this with all my heart and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.  I hope that you are having a Merry Christmas Season.  I received your package in the mail this week thank you so much for everything!  Be looking for a package from me I will be sending a family Christmas present this year that I hope you all will be able to enjoy.  I love you all so very much and know that you are in my prayers.  Have a great week and I will talk to you all next week.  Hugs and kisses from Virginia with lot of Love.

Elder Adams

Well I got to go just try to get me that picture next week.  Thank you so much I love you Have a great week.  Talk to you next week.

No Good without the Bad

Well this week was a great week in the mission field.  My thanksgiving was awesome we went to our Bishops house and ate dinner with them.  We also played in a turkey bowl thanksgiving morning.  That was so much fun man it was exciting.  This week was way cold in Virginia.  On Tuesday and Wednesday it was pouring rain and was about 40 degrees outside.  The work of the Lord never stops me and my companion went out and worked all day.  We were wet cold and tired at the end of everyday but man it was amazing I loved it so much!  It was super sweet.  We have a baptism coming up on December 14.  It's exciting his name is Elijah James Shaw.  He is a young kid that comes and plays basketball with us.  I'm so excited to see him be baptized I've been teaching him the entire time I have been here in Swift Creek.  Almost 5 Months.  After that baptism we have another baptism coming up on December 21.  It's two younger girls who's names are Kathleene and Brooke Smith.  Their mom was a member sense the day she was born but became less-active and never had the kids baptized we tracked into them on accident one Sunday.  They are very excited to get baptized.  The work out here is going great.  Bishop in correlation this week said, "Elder Adams this is amazing before you came here there was no one and look what you have done with the area."  I know that I only was able to do this work because of my Heavenly Father it is such a blessing to be able to see how if you are humble and worthy to do the work the Lord will bless you but as soon as you become prideful and think that it's you the miracles go away.  The Lord is always by our side no matter what.  It was hard hearing that Jack Adams died this week.  He was the only dog that I have ever had and it hurt but instantly a feeling of peace came over me and I felt that I would see him again.  It the purpose of this life, trials.  I always think of the Batman quote, "Why do we fall Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up."  That is partially true but we need to learn to let the Lord pick us back up.  It is my testimony that he live and that he loves us.  I know that my Savior is with me always he never leaves my side.  I know that I am only able to do the work that I have done out here on a mission because my Savior has blessed me with the knowledge and testimony of the Gospel.  I know that this church is true with all my heart.  This is the last month for the thing that my mission has been working on, "Our Gift to Christ."  The last step after; Sacrifice September, Obedience October, No No November, is Consecrated Christmas.  I invite all of you to Consecrate all of your efforts to building up the kingdom of God.  Do everything with an eye single to his glory.  It is such an amazing topic to study.  Please study this and see in what was you can consecrate yourself to Him.  I know that this church is true and I know that our Heavenly Father lives.  I know that he loves each and everyone of us no matter what we have done.  He doesn't care about the past he just cares about where we are going.  I know with all my heart that he lives and that he loves each and everyone of us.  I love my Savior and I love the work that he has blessed me with.  I love you all and hope that every thing is going good.  Keep you spirits up.  We have the Restored Gospel.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.  I love you and hope you have a great week.  Hugs and Kisses from Virginia.

Elder Adams

It's fine about Jack I'm sure that you guys made the best decision.  Thank you for letting me know and for sending me the picture.  Lots of Change is good it only makes us stronger.  I love you.

I thought Jack was fine???????

ok sounds good.  Christmas will be fun at grandmas

Cool Beans!  Are you getting Hard wood floors?

not yet I'm going to try to get it today maybe.  Idk I'm not sure If I want to.  I feel bad spending money.

Yeah don't call please.  I guess it's just hard...  It's fine though one day we will see him again.

O I forgot to say if you read 7 pages a day in the new testament you will finish the four gospels by Christmas I  invite you guys to do that.  I'm doing it.

Ok well time us up.  Don't worry about Jack and that effecting me I am going to be fine.  I know you guys made the right decision and he is in a happier place with our heavenly father.  I love you mom and hope you are doing ok.  Have a great week I will talk to you next week. MWAH MWAH MWAH love you.  Hugs and Kisses from Virginia.

Um speak for yourself.  I will be owning another dog.