Feb 27th
“I
got food poisoning and it stunk!” Adam says it was from some m&m's
I sent him-whatever(smile)..... “I was in the house for a whole day
and it was not fun :( we were at a lesson when it hit me and I
straight up bore my testimony and said we need to go home can we mark
for tomorrow?
I barely made it home ha ha I was sweating and stuff-it hurt!”
This
week was tough for Adam because he was sick for part of it and one of
their investigators fell threw-also another young woman they were
going to baptize moved to another area and someone else is going to
baptize her-that was sad for him but she IS going to get baptized.
“So
this week we walked into our house and this bird was just chillin'
there on the window bar and we took pictures of it and it was very
strangely domestic.. (it probably felt the spirit) but it was a
sparrow and randomly flew off after hanging out for a few minutes. We
told him not to bring back any friends because we can't host parties
ha ha. As funny as that sounds we think birds fly in and out of our
house and just chill in it while we are gone cuz we leave all the
windows open cuz its so hot! The guy we baptized is doing great and
so is the little girl. He is getting the priesthood and a calling so
we are stoked about that. I still am teaching English class and that
is going good”-They get investigators sometimes there.
March
5th
This
week was... tough. I got extremely sick and had an experience of my
life.. I got a Brazilian fever. I was fine and woke up one morning
with it. I had a fever and aches of the body, lack of appetite, and a
migraine. I was literally bed ridden except to use the restroom. It
hit me like a freight train-just there all of a sudden. It went on
for about two days and was the worst two days of the mission. Sister
M----- called the doc and got me some medicine and I am better
now-100% and kickin! During those two days of doing nothing but lying
in bed looking at the ceiling I had some once in a lifetime
experiences. It is so hard to be sick away from home let alone a
different country with nothing familiar and one person you know. I
was so close with God at that moment and I can testify that God
humbles you before he teaches you. As well as the other side that
Satan attacks you when you are most weak-physically weak too. Just
like the story of Jesus when he is fasting. That's all i will say
about that!”
Each
week there is someone he really misses. Dad, Mom, Charity. He really
felt homesick this week.
Adam
met someone that his older brother, John, had baptized and
“reactivated” them. Adam misses cereal and milk and rides with his
Dad.
March 13
“Elder
G-----, my trainer, got transferred and we also got some good
news.... I am training. I am training in my first area and said good
bye to my trainer to say hello to my trainee. I went to the office to
get my trainee. It was a little scary and I was really nervous. My
trainee is Elder F-------.” Adam said that he was difficult to
understand but that his Portuguese has risen to a new level. His
companion likes to draw and listen to music and is stubborn just like
Adam. (smile) “It has really proven to be a challenge with all
these new responsibilities-I'm not used to being behind the wheel-
but the Lord is with me (Joshua 1:9)”
“This
week was a great week we got four new investigators and marked two
dates. We will baptize both this
Saturday.
It is very hectic and I'm a little stressed but... tudo vai dar
certo. (everything will be alright)”
He
has some really strong investigators-one(a 13 year old kid) is 50
pages into the Book of Mormon and saving for a mission. Just like his
companion was several years ago. “THE STONE IS ROLLING...BABY”
March
19
Adam
had a great experience this week. He went over to give a blessing to
a woman who is having some issues with her husband(who is a great
guy, just testy) and after the blessing the spirit was strong. He
felt impressed to ask her if he could share a scripture. He shared
Joshua 1:9 and she started to cry and said that she really needed to
hear that. “At the beginning of my mission I started a list of
scriptures I wanted to memorize-not word for word but what they say
and where they are. I add to it everyday and this scrip was one of
them and I knew that if i hadn't known that scripture in my head the
spirit would not have been there to help me and in turn give this
loving sister what she needed.”
Adam
says the ward is working on some reverence issues-he tells some funny
things about it, he dedicated his first house and his baptisms this
week went really well.-Adam believes twelve year old J---- will be a
leader in the church someday. At the baptism Adam and his companion
sang a duet of “I stand all amazed” in Spanish, Portuguese, and
English. “YUUUP...
sigh... KILLED IT”
A couple they are teaching just got divorce papers and are going to
be married soon so they can be baptized.
They
went “clapping”(they clap in the yard-that's how they “ring
their door bell.”) in the rain and asked a person if they could
come in out of it. Taught her a lesson, challenged her to be baptized
and she accepted. (smile)
March
26
“A cool story, two months ago Elder G------ and I taught a reference, a friend of a member but the member lost contact with her and said that she thought she had moved, this week we were walking in the street and we saw her! We marked with her and found out that she hadn't moved but that she stopped talking to the member (cuz the member is a little weird if you ask me) but she told us her story and how she isn't from here but she had a strong feeling she should move to Sorocaba Paineiras and she didn't know why-she didn't have a job here or know anyone here, but she said she had a strong feeling from God! Anyway we taught her a lesson by the spirit and I told her I knew it was the spirit that had lead us to her two times in a row after the first time didn't work and long story short it was an extremely powerful lesson with the spirit she was crying, she said she was the happiest woman in the world, and we marked a date for baptism with her.”
Adam
and his companion had a bit of a struggle this week but worked
through it and ended up with 15 investigators for the week. “One
of the days all of our appointments fell and we did contacts walking
without sitting down for five straight hours. TALK ABOUT WORK OUT.”
April
2nd
Wow I
cant believe how awesome conference was, seriously! I cant believe
some of my life I sat there waiting through it until it was over.
This year went by way too fast I couldn't believe it. I thought of
something funny.....To missionaries, conference is seriously like the
super bowl. We all look forward to it forever and then we all get
there in a group watching it on the edge of our chairs. When they
announce the speakers its like they're putting in players and we
chatter amongst ourselves of how good the conference will be, then
scriptures and topics they use are like game plays and we all quote
the scrips they use out loud. But most of all it was the coolest cuz
EVERY SINGLE ONE of my investigators received an answer. I had six
there and really I personally had never taken a question and received
an answer before, but I put my faith in God and made the promise to
them that they would. Literally it was like clock work it was crazy.
Adam
had a fright this past week when one of his investigators KISSED him!
“all of a sudden wham- on the cheek, it scarred me half to death.
I was like “Elder I wanna leave!”
April
9th
“I
finished the Book of Mormon for the third time of the mission MAN I
LOVE THAT BOOK. I think I want to teach it for a career at
BYU(whoa....this is new) or something. I can't believe I didn't study
it like crazy my whole life. I honestly can't believed I wanted to
whine everyday for family scriptures and prayer.. SORRY mom and dad
:( -As parents this is gratifying.(smile) He received 3 “Huge”
Easter eggs and says it's because he's loved. Hummmm. “Well I am
doing good-my wrist felt like it was broken for a few days and I
prayed to Heavenly Father...I said, I cant work with my wrist like
this, so I will wrap it up tonight and if you could, please heal it
so I can get back to your work tomorrow.
I woke up with a perfect wrist the next morning it was quite cool. I
am doing great here in Paineiras (still) I love all of you and I
thank you all for your examples to me and what you have done for me.
April
16
“All
8 dates fell though. Yeah, it was really hard. This week has been a
little rough. But we are working with some of the dates and the other
ones that fell are no longer in the picture for now. Well this week
like I said was slightly rough. There is stake drama going on and
problems in my zone with missionaries. We have member speaking bad
about us missionaries in the zone when we didn't do anything. It's
kind of a mess right now but my great friend Elder M---- told me
this, and I agree, that all you can do is do what your doing right
and think about Christ and keep going with your head up and we will!
I am
having some comp problems as well. Please pray for me. Other than
that, an inactive-wife of one of our investigators stopped cold
turkey after years of smoking after a lesson on goals and the temple
we had with her and her husband (our investigator) so that was really
cool! Now they just need to get married.(smile) Missions truly change
people. Before my mission I realized that I would have never even
talked to someone drunk... Bahaha. In fact I never knew a lot of
people that have even done anything bad let alone served time in jail
or some other things. On my mission I have talked to/helped/taught
people that have truly been to hell and back. People that at one time
were in the clutches of the devil and his instruments. Wow. How
different the world is!”
Adam
walked in on some nuns and got some contacts through frisbee. He
says that being an American(an oddity) helps out when your on a
mission.
April
23
“I
got transferred from my area. My home :( it was my first area and the
only one I knew but I needed to move on and grow up and this area has
really changed me. I got transferred from Elder --------- in the
middle of our training but someone will finish it and I got another
newbie to train. :) I won't lie but someone intelligent random
philosopher said that the best of friendships start off as fights and
I can testify of that. He and I hugged and bawled when I was packing
my bags -I have never done that with anyone in my life. I think it
was cuz emotionally we went through so much and we both felt bad for
how we treated each other when our time was so short and we had so
much in common-I will miss him. Anyway I had the second saddest day
of my life and cried the most the last day in my area saying goodbye
to our families with dates (I left 8 dates in Paineiras with more
ready and waiting for dates because of marriage and stuff) so I guess
I left my mark there and the lord needed me somewhere else. It was
extremely hard for me, I felt like I was leaving the last thing I
felt like I knew in Brazil and I felt very alone. I said goodbye to a
lot of members that treated me like family. Anyway enough of the
sadness I got transferred to Sao Paulo North Zone, area is called
Cachoeirinha. It is FAVEEEELLLLLA.”
“My
new area was opened last transfer so I am kinda starting with
nothing. Basically I am doing a lot of street contacts. This area is
so different than what I'm used to. It is super poor and dirty. The
sewage runs down the street in little ditch things and it stinks. The
roads are super thin and everywhere is packed, it reminds me of Paris
or something like that. They have HUGE staircases you have to climb
up and your knees get WORKED cuz there are tons and tons and tons of
hills here. There is open sewage everywhere. People here are worse
off then in Paineiras by a land slide.
We
had a bum beg at our door Sunday morning and we gave him food to eat
and some water and he cried and said god bless you, god bless you. I
never will forget that moment in my life. I wanted to bend down and
hug that dirty old toothless man.”
The
first Sunday there Adam had to speak for 15 min and said, “wow how
the mission changes you.” He's teaching a couple of families that
are cool.
May
7th
Adam's
P-day was on a Wednesday this week, so we were a little worried but
here's why:
“So
to start off the last 3 craziest days of my life I got a call on
Friday evening from President which usually isn't good and he called
to inform me that due to missionaries getting their visas I would be
an emergency transfer. I went to one of my families home when she was
thinking of committing suicide and we taught her and turned her life
around. She had chosen me to baptize her. We went to her house to
say good bye. She was sad but she knew that Heavenly Father had sent
me and was sending to someone else to help them.
“Then
after a sleepless night of last minute packing the next day was the
day of transfers, we were going to lunch before they came to pick us
up and when we entered the Avenida there was a commotion. We went to
see what it was and there is a river of water and sewage in the
middle of a three lane highway both sides and there were a bunch of
kids yelling and pointing in the water. We ran to see what was up and
there was a body face up in the water, I thought it was dead at first
but she was alive. I ripped off my backpack and took out the cell
phone and gave them to my comp to jump in and get her and as I had my
leg over the wall I guess God didn't want me going in that day cuz
another Brazilian ten feet down dropped in waded through waste deep
water and got the woman. I yelled if she was still breathing and he
said yes and to call the police. He dragged her right under me and my
comp and she was a mess she had bumps on her head and her clothes
were all ripped. She didn’t look to good it looked like someone
beat her or something but when he was yelling at me and the police
were coming I'll never forget she looked up at me and my comp almost
to say I'm glad you are here and then fainted again as her head
plopped back down on her chest. I don’t know what happened after
that but longs story short she went to the hospital and she should be
alive still.
Adam
was glad to be transferred. He had had a few experiences like this
one. But as sad as he was to leave his family there he picked up
another one that he baptized from someone else's efforts.
May
14
Adam
says he has found boxed milk that is 3%. He says it tastes like
canned milk but he loves it. Who would think that you would love
corn flakes too?! Missions are wonderful. They make you so
appreciative. He got to talk to all of his family members on
mother's day and talked a lot about that.
He
called late because he had a teach earlier.
“And
I literally just got back from a lesson with our baptism J-----. She
is a 19 year old African Brazilian mix who is really faithful and
awesome. She has asked questions in our last three lessons that I
haven't asked until I was in the MTC like what happens in the after
life if our loved ones don't chose the path and end up in another
kingdom how can we live with them forever in happiness? And profound
questions about Christ and the atonement. It's a good thing I already
had asked these questions and have a clear mind so we were able to
answer all of them well! I love the Lord for what he has done to help
her and us and helped us find and teach her. When we got in her
house today she was alone which is really sketchy for missionaries
and because she is 19 we shouldn't teach her alone if we can help it.
When we got there I said a prayer to Father in Heaven. I said “you
gave us our purpose as missionaries and we have no other choice
Father because its freezing and raining outside and we're here to
teach her please do something.” Then about two minutes later her
sister in law walks in the door from work early, ha! I was like “Wow
thanks! that was fast!” Anyway she explained through tears an
experience she had this week and with reading and praying about the
Book of Mormon and how she had this AWWWEEESOME spirit come into her
while she was pondering and she said she felt like she was seeing
white when she closed her eyes in the dark room cuz God was there
with her and she said. “Gosh it was so cool!” I was like... wow!
I explained to her what Lehi's dream all meant and how in theory she
was one of the people that he dreamt about choosing to hold to the
rod and I said “you found the rod, all you have to do is hold on,”
and she just soaked it in, she loved it. She will be baptized this
Saturday.”
Adam
plays a game called BATE, BATE. (Batch, Batch)
May
19
Adam
was really sick this past week and went to the hospital. Then his
companion got really sick and went in to the hospital. They laughed
when Adam said, “it's not me this time, it's him.”
 |
| Adam comments on the cool graffiti around the city |
“The
Lord has something big in for me. Elder V----- might leave me to
open this area, seeing as I only have two weeks here and I barely
know the area or investigators due to emergencies, divisions,
sicknesses, and baptism dates. Ugggggh. I don't want to be left in
the second biggest area of the mission in the dark. But its all good!
I
have a gnarly testimony of this church. Of trials and of our life
here on earth. I studied the chapter 8 of 1 Nephi this week and
woooow can I just say I have found some profound stuff I never
noticed. Did you guys notice the névoa(fog) came AFTER the people
entered the path and got the rod. It's so true, do you guys realize
what that means? For the same reason a coach wouldn't try to draft
someone who is already on his team. Satan only places his darkness
around us when we decide which paths are to hold to the rod and walk
the paths.”
He
sent us a little P.S. All the water in the world however hard it
tried couldn't sink the smallest ship unless it got inside. All the
evil in the world the blackest kind of sin cant hurt you in the least
bit, unless you let it in.
DONT LET IT IN.
May 26th
No
e-mail this week. A mothers plight.
June
19th
So we
have had a problem getting Adam's e-mails and it has been a bit
frustrating. It seems when he puts pictures with his e-mails we
aren't getting them. He's done it before so we are at a loss. But
alas we have gotten one!!!!
He
tried to resend his old e-mails but we never received them.
Apparently he is indeed alone in the second biggest area in his
mission. There is a great area to cover and he is getting used to
finding his way around.
“This
week was also another difficult week. I feel like God is really
seeing how fast I can run and high I can jump so he knows which races
to put me in if you get my drift. This was another week of trials and
challenges BUT like Mosias 23:21 and verse 10 say in the end we will
be instruments in the hand of the Lord. Its just really hard when you
try hard and not much happens. Its like when you play a basketball
game and you try your hardest and you lose, you think back to the
game and start to notice and blame yourself for all your mistakes.”
It
rained very hard for 6 straight days and everything was wet and damp
but they were able to still get in to some houses.
“Another
highlight is we had the dedication of the Manaus temple it was pretty
coool. Da hora :) We did the Hosanna shout in Portuguese and it was
so awesome to see the stoked people of Manaus go crazy at the
celebration because they have been having to travel suuuuuper long to
other temples. The work is moving gente! É nos!!!”
June
24
“This
week was another toughy :) I had sinusitis. It's a disease that
doesn't really exist there in the states but is sure does here. It is
a virus that attacks your sinus' and you cry randomly and your nose
is always really stuffy and runny and it is absolutely miserable.
“The way God works is interesting. I had my comp give me a blessing
and nothing changed and I had so much faith then I saw that bag of
vitamins hanging around and I thought well before I ask for Gods help
I should do all I can......duuuh. So I took a vitamin....I was a lot
better the next morning and since then I have been getting better.
Well
this week went rather well. I feel ya Joseph, we had two
investigators come to church today
but
there were probably like nine that promised. Eeeeesh. Sometimes I
just wanna grab people and slap them in the face and say do
you know what you're missing?!?!??
 |
| Adam meets Elder T----- at Zone Conference, his old buddy from the MTC |
Adam
had an experience with a man who wanted to give him back his Book of
Mormon -he had some leadership in another church but his children
were interested in what the missionaries had to say. Adam said to
him, “do you really want to reject more scripture? Do you
understand what you are doing!?” Adam said he was patient but I
don't know....(smile)
Adam
said this week he had eaten the worst thing he's ever eaten in his
life...it was a desert out of oranges and he said he threw up a
little and was sick the rest of the night. Gee, I wonder what it was
they ate?(smile)
July
Adam
says they were told they needed to plan better with their money. He
says they spend their money on buses that take them out of the city.
The field seems “whiter” there. So they eat less and travel more
to get good results.
Joseph
sent him a pair of shoes that he sorely needed and it touched him
greatly. He said that his had worn out with all the walking. “Man,
I love my broseph”
“One
of our awesome investigators didn't show up to church! So I called
him on the phone of a member and didn't take no for an answer. He
really is an awesome guy but his only pair of pants were wet and
drying (they don't have driers here) I told him well your talking to
the right guy I have three pairs of pants in my house, we'll be at
your house in ten. We passed our house in the car of a member, I got
all my pants I had (I had no idea what size he was.) and we took him
to church :) F----- is progressing very well and preparing for his
baptism date, also went to church and loved it.
Adam
is trying to teach a woman who runs a Ragae Shop. She' been there 10
years and not one missionary has come in before. She seems to have
big issues to overcome.
“I had a wonderful experience this week. This week we had to walk about an hours distance from one house, but we were in a house of a member cuz he asked for a blessing and they offered us hot chocolate, I told them we couldn't that we didn't have time we had to start walking but my comp accepted. When he accepted I looked at him and was slightly frustrated and said then you better walk fast (because he has a tendency to not walk very fast at all) anyway when we left we got to bout the halfway point with ten minutes left to get there and he was walking really slow cuz he had drank a lot of hot chocolate and I was very frustrated with him, though I tried to not let it show. We had a lot still to walk and we had ten minutes left for about a 40 minute journey. Anyway I was holding in my frustrations, and when we got to the REALLY hilly part because he was walking so slow due to my annoyance I asked if I could carry all his stuff trying to not let it show that I was angry. The moment I took the burden off my wheezing, sweating companion immediately I was calmed and at peace. I had the weirdest feeling come over me when I went to lift his burden to help him. Even though it was his fault, and he knew it. I learned the power of serving people, when we serve people we learn to accept, forgive, and to love. I don't think I've ever had a feeling change that fast in my life from one opposite to another. It was the same speed as a light switch, not even a cross feeling, black then white the moment he gave me his bags.
30th
Adam helped a dog give birth and for his trouble has a puppy named
aveencench. (A Vincent) and had some wonderful teaches. One super
one with the Ragae people on Joseph Smith.
One
day when everything fell through and a day or two of depression.
Then a day when every contact came. Extremes.
August
-This
week Adam's mission president came for a surprise visit to his ward,
as they were waiting outside of the chapel he invited everyone that
passed by to church. Adam said he was really direct. Later in the
week, Adam had someone approach him and asked what he wanted to buy
(drugs) He taught him for a bit and then the guy said, “so what
will it be?” Ha Ha. He didn't learn much. (smile)
 |
| More of the cool graffiti that Adam likes |
-This
week Adam passed by an old investigator who wanted/tried to bible
bash. Adam bore his testimony to her and told her to read and pray
about the Book of Mormon. When he got home he was sad and had a
prayer and asked Heavenly Father some things.... “I had one of the
best prayers of my life with Heavenly Father and asked for answers.
Immediately when I said “Amen,” words came into my head that
kinda hit me like a hammer. "why are you questioning when you
haven't even searched or thought to search for the answer in the Book
of Mormon".. BAAAM. I immediately got up and walked to the study
room to my scriptures. Never in my life have I done that thing where
you have a question and open to a random spot and have an answer. I
have never experienced it. So I thought “God gave me an answer so
fast and strong to search the Book of Mormon lets see what he's
got.”(I was still feeling a little stubborn) but when I opened the
Book of Mormon I got a slap in the face with the first verse for the
way I was feeling and my questions, then the next verse I got an
answer. I opened to 2 Nephi 31:20-21.”
Adam said he was humbled and bore testimony again of the truthfulness
of this Gospel.
-Adam
was teaching the plan of Salvation to someone and the fellow,
“asked if it was part of Gods plan that Adam partook of the fruit
and if it was necessary for mankind why did Satan temp Adam to help
with this.” I didn't know but I believe the spirit told me what
the answer was and I told my investigator that “Satan knew that it
was Gods plan, but Satan also wanted a chance to bring down as many
children of God's as he could with him while he was going down. I
told him Satan helping with Gods plan and bringing down thousands of
people would be better for him in the end then to let Adam and Eve
chill for eternity and him with nothing. Then he asked a few other
questions.”
-This
week Adam's companion was transferred and he received another greeny
to train. He was made a DL leader and is working hard. His new
companion is from the south and is called a “Gaucho” He's a lot
taller than Adam(which wouldn't be hard.) and Caucasian. He said his
old companion opened up and told Adam how much he really appreciated
him and told him he had learned to work hard because of Adam. They
both shed a few tears because it had been difficult at first in their
companionship. Adam is glad for the change and is really working hard
and wants to do a good job.
-This
week Adam tells us that his investigators are spreading the Gospel,
and they are not even baptized yet. One of them is already attending
mission prep. classes and plans to serve and takes a friend with him.
Both are progressing investigators. He will reach his one year mark
this next week and doesn't want to mark it by burning anything or
wasting resources. He wants to celebrate it by having a baptism on
that day. He says, “I love you guys. Please pray for me and that
the people who don't have baptismal dates that I am teaching, can
receive answers and set dates. I really thank you all for your
prayers. I am completely sure that your prayers kept me safe this
week. I had an insane, life changing and scary experience this week
with Elder L-----, that I won't explain for Mom's sake until next
week.(Oh that's going to help her....NOT.) I am glad that God blessed
me with calmness and sensibility to be able to survive the situation.
I will definitely never forget it. God watches over and protects his
servants”
September
Well
Adam decided to share his story because he is no longer in danger.
His companion and he were walking down the road in a jungle-like
area. The houses disappeared as well as the road, but the directions
told them to continue so they did. This drugged and strange man
walked toward them and said he'd never seen 2 white guys walking down
this area before. Adam explained that they were missionaries and he
asked, “do you have faith in
Jesus Christ?”. Adam said “Yes I do”. The man grabbed something
in his back pocket and said, “If I pulled a handgun on you would
you still have faith in Jesus Christ?” Adam said “yes I still
would sir, but you don't have to do that” the man said “I have
already killed 3 people. Will God forgive me?” “And
at this point any movement from him and I would have punched him as
hard as I could in his face and ran like the wind. The spirit told me
to change the subject and later I realized if I would have said yes,
maybe he would have thought 'well if God will forgive me whats two
more people going to do?'. But I told him "brother, do you want
to change? You don't have to be this way, the gospel of Jesus Christ
is a cure for whatever trial and tribulation that you might have.”
Adam continued to calm him down and talk to him. Adam said his poor
companion was transparent, it was only his 2nd
week in the mission field. Adam was surprisingly very calm and says
he's grateful that the Lord blessed him with a sound mind during the
situation. The mission president told him never to go back to that
place. He ends with, “There
are two churches on this earth. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints and apostasy. I love you all. Until next week.”
-Adam
has been waiting outside the church on Sundays and inviting people in
during the meeting. He and his companion met one man who was living
in the house of a woman they were looking for and he was wearing
shorts, stunk, and the shack he lived in was a rats nest. After the
first lesson he shaved and wore a shirt, after the second lesson his
house was clean and he didn't stink. Adam thought it was so neat to
see how the gospel effects them in their lives. They hadn't even
taught about the word of wisdom, and he said he felt that God did not
approve of him drinking.
-Marked
more dates “marked” for baptism. One young man is preparing for
a mission.
“In
the center of Fazendinha (pretty crazy busy) a member from Bareuri
found me and asked me for directions and we started talking. As she
was leaving she asked my name and I said “Elder Vincent” and she
said “Wow!! Cool!! The missionary that baptized me about ten years
back was named Elder Vincent.” Guess who baptized her?:) (John
Luke) I whipped out my family pics I carry around everywhere and
showed her, “Is this him?” She got super stoked!
-“R-------
will serve a mission here in a little less than a year. He is already
making plans and hasn't even been baptized. What miracles!! The first
few lessons we had to chase him down to meet with him. He told his
friend to tell us to not come back. Last thing that happened was
Sunday
when
he told me how much he wanted me to baptize him and that he hoped
that I wouldn't be transferred, that he would go on a mission here in
one year, and that he spent 600 R$ on a suit! Its crazy how
missionary work changes people! He is one of my best friends. He is a
great kid.” Adam was transferred and made a Zone leader. He asks
for our prayers.
Oct.
Adam's
new area is Trujillo. He is with Elder Sid----- from Spokane. They
are opening up the area, which means that both of them are new to the
area. They are working very hard. He says when he runs into people
who say they don't believe there's a God, it reminds him of a story.
“One day a man was getting his hair cut and the barber asked him,
“Do you believe in God?” and he said “of course.” and the
barber said “I don't.” The man asked him why and the barber
replied, “because if there is a God, why is there so much evil in
the world, why does he let people die and all this war and contention
happen and so many people get lost and it's because of this that
there can't possibly be a God.” The man thanked the barber and
left, only to return after a few seconds saying, “You know, I don't
believe that barbers exist.” The barber said, “you just got your
hair cut and you're looking right at me standing here.” And the man
pointed outside the shop to a very hairy man with a beard and long
hair and said, “if barbers exist why does he have long hair and a
beard?” I love this analogy!
-Adam
feels like he could die if asked to for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Adam loves Acts and thinks it's cool that they referenced in more
than once in conference. He contacted a Catholic usher directing
traffic at the Cathedral, marked a date to teach him. He realizes
that he really has a gift of socializing with people. ( REALLY?)
-The
mother of one of his investigators yelled at them for converting her
son. She was saying all kinds of lies about the church. Adam had to
speak to his companion in English because his Companion was so angry
at her. She only wanted her son to see the missionaries so that he
would start coming to the Catholic church with her. She said he
needed to wait until he is 18 and is old enough to choose. Adam
asked her if he was baptized a Catholic as a baby. She stammered. (I
guess she forgot about that.) Adam chuckled a bit when he remembered
her response. SHAME SHAME WINK. :/.
-Adam's
Dad counseled him to be careful not to offend the spirit(referring to
the angry Mom the week before) and Adam said that it was all good.
That she knew they wanted to be her friend. He said he had born
testimony many times to her of God's love for her.
-Adam's
clothes are wearing out. Then he says he gained 26 lbs. I asked,
“Are your clothes wearing out or are you growing out of them. He
says both. :) He continues to chronicle his work and says “that's
___ for team Jesus.” Then he ends with this. “Finally, check out
this miracle that happened this week are you with me? A lady we are
teaching told us she was praying to know which church was right and
that if God truly had a true church that he would send the answer to
her gate. GUESS who clapped her gate two days after?!? :)”
