Sorry folks,
There is not an update from Sister Adams this week. She wrote a little one line note to Mom and Dad, but nothing to forward.
Jennie will be arriving home from the Philippines this week. Next Sunday, March 27th, she will be speaking in church about her experiences.
She would love to see all her friends there!
Naunie
November 2010 - January 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Rain
is falling all around. And it's really cold. Just preparing me for Utah. ;)
This week was, well, wet... and rewarding. We worked hard, looking for new investigators, and found a couple of gems. Sister Pacita I think is my favorite. I already love her so much. She is the mother of 7. But, mom, imagine 2 sets of twins; 17 years old (girls) and 7 months (boys), also a 20 year old, 19 year old, and a 3 year old... oh, and no husband. She is incredible. Her husband was killed last year before election because he was a body guard for someone running for... something. Her oldest, a boy, drives their tricycle to support them. (not the highest paying job... by a long shot). Her twins are, quite honestly, a little self centered, but with a little love and some gospel they can change :). Her 3 year old is the most adorable girl named Princess I've ever met. Anyway, sister is like WonderMom... she stands there most of the time for the lessons because she's holding 2 7-month olds (who don't have diapers on.. haha) and listens intently while trying not to let them cry so she can listen. She is receptive, and I want her to accept it so bad. The first time we met I asked where she thought her husband was. She said "siguro..." which means "I think..." I told her that she can know for sure. I told her she can be "sigurado gid" which means you know for sure, where he is, and that she can also be sure she can be with him again. I know she's curious, because I don't think anyone has told that to her before. She has plans to come to church, and I just pray she will. She didn't come yesterday, but I'm not sure why... we haven't been able to follow up. I just get overwhelmed with the love I feel for her. That's something that I've felt a lot of lately... overwhelming feelings of the love of God for these people and the need to let them know. As a result, I feel the love for them... even strangers.
I was working with Sister Salway this week one day and we went to one of their investigators. As we walked in the house of a man who is basically a single dad of a 11 year old and a 10 year old, I felt a sadness just emanating from this man. As we sat down to talk to him, I didn't even have to beg, he laid his concern out for us. And all I wanted him to understand was how incredibly loved he was. So I followed the spirit, shared a scripture, and bore my testimony. The spirit in the room was so strong, and I found myself loving this family and wanting their happiness.
That's what I've learned. I've learned that if you don't love them, nothing else matters. And the way to love them is to serve them with your whole heart.
I love my mission. I'm off to what I'm sure is going to be a combination of the hardest, busiest and most rewarding week of the last 18 months. I love you all, I love being a missionary, and I love my Heavenly Father.
Sister Adams
This week was, well, wet... and rewarding. We worked hard, looking for new investigators, and found a couple of gems. Sister Pacita I think is my favorite. I already love her so much. She is the mother of 7. But, mom, imagine 2 sets of twins; 17 years old (girls) and 7 months (boys), also a 20 year old, 19 year old, and a 3 year old... oh, and no husband. She is incredible. Her husband was killed last year before election because he was a body guard for someone running for... something. Her oldest, a boy, drives their tricycle to support them. (not the highest paying job... by a long shot). Her twins are, quite honestly, a little self centered, but with a little love and some gospel they can change :). Her 3 year old is the most adorable girl named Princess I've ever met. Anyway, sister is like WonderMom... she stands there most of the time for the lessons because she's holding 2 7-month olds (who don't have diapers on.. haha) and listens intently while trying not to let them cry so she can listen. She is receptive, and I want her to accept it so bad. The first time we met I asked where she thought her husband was. She said "siguro..." which means "I think..." I told her that she can know for sure. I told her she can be "sigurado gid" which means you know for sure, where he is, and that she can also be sure she can be with him again. I know she's curious, because I don't think anyone has told that to her before. She has plans to come to church, and I just pray she will. She didn't come yesterday, but I'm not sure why... we haven't been able to follow up. I just get overwhelmed with the love I feel for her. That's something that I've felt a lot of lately... overwhelming feelings of the love of God for these people and the need to let them know. As a result, I feel the love for them... even strangers.
I was working with Sister Salway this week one day and we went to one of their investigators. As we walked in the house of a man who is basically a single dad of a 11 year old and a 10 year old, I felt a sadness just emanating from this man. As we sat down to talk to him, I didn't even have to beg, he laid his concern out for us. And all I wanted him to understand was how incredibly loved he was. So I followed the spirit, shared a scripture, and bore my testimony. The spirit in the room was so strong, and I found myself loving this family and wanting their happiness.
That's what I've learned. I've learned that if you don't love them, nothing else matters. And the way to love them is to serve them with your whole heart.
I love my mission. I'm off to what I'm sure is going to be a combination of the hardest, busiest and most rewarding week of the last 18 months. I love you all, I love being a missionary, and I love my Heavenly Father.
Sister Adams
Monday, March 7, 2011
Turning Fear into Faith
That was our lesson in Relief Society yesterday. It was way awesome. Basically prayer is the way to break Satan's powerful tool of fear.
This week was pretty amazing! We found 7 new investigators. Here's one story:
On Thursday, we went to try and teach an investigator who is always busy with her store. We've only taught her twice, but she seems receptive. Well, she was sleeping on Thursday, but her husband was there, so we decided to talk to him a little bit. While we were talking, a girl came in and sat down. She knows the man, Alvin, and she had some business with him. While she was waiting, I talked to her. She was way cool, so I gave her a Restoration pamphlet, thinking she'd leave soon and we wouldn't have time to teach. But it started raining and her transaction wasn't done yet (I'm not sure what it was, just that it involved a credit card...). AND she was asking questions right and left. I finally just said, "can we share with you?" She was like, "sure!" haha, kind of like she was just waiting for me to ask. So we taught about Joseph Smith to her. When I asked if we could come to her house, she gave us her work schedule, and described where her house was. THEN we decided to go find her yesterday. Turns out, she had to work when she told us she didn't (I think she just switched with someone), so we then had no one to teach... BUT her neighbor's daughter (who's 9) had gone to church because they have some relative that's a member. I asked her if she wanted to find out what her daughter had learned at church. She was really excited, and told us to come in. We taught the Restoration to her and her kids and then she asked an inspired question. "Will your religion save me?"
We get forms of this question all the time. But it's usually like, "for you, does religion save a person?" And they aren't sincerely asking, just wanting to make us say that this one will... But Rose was genuinely interested in the answer. I told her that no religion saves a person. But then I was 100% honest with her and told her that only in this church is the authority that is necessary to be saved. I gave the example of baptism. We explained about priesthood again, and she really understood and appreciated the answer. Sometimes it's hard to be so frank with people because you don't want them to think the wrong thing about the church, but they have to know the truth.
It was strange, the path that led us to Rose, and kind of long because I've known that first family FOREVER. But in the end (at the begining?), I feel like we've touched at least 3 families. We're going to keep going back to them all, and I hope they can progress.
Oh, and Bijie worked with us yesterday. She's got a rock solid testimony, and she's so willing to share it. I have no worries that she'll go inactive.
Man, I love my job.
Just one more email!
Love,
Sister Adams
This week was pretty amazing! We found 7 new investigators. Here's one story:
On Thursday, we went to try and teach an investigator who is always busy with her store. We've only taught her twice, but she seems receptive. Well, she was sleeping on Thursday, but her husband was there, so we decided to talk to him a little bit. While we were talking, a girl came in and sat down. She knows the man, Alvin, and she had some business with him. While she was waiting, I talked to her. She was way cool, so I gave her a Restoration pamphlet, thinking she'd leave soon and we wouldn't have time to teach. But it started raining and her transaction wasn't done yet (I'm not sure what it was, just that it involved a credit card...). AND she was asking questions right and left. I finally just said, "can we share with you?" She was like, "sure!" haha, kind of like she was just waiting for me to ask. So we taught about Joseph Smith to her. When I asked if we could come to her house, she gave us her work schedule, and described where her house was. THEN we decided to go find her yesterday. Turns out, she had to work when she told us she didn't (I think she just switched with someone), so we then had no one to teach... BUT her neighbor's daughter (who's 9) had gone to church because they have some relative that's a member. I asked her if she wanted to find out what her daughter had learned at church. She was really excited, and told us to come in. We taught the Restoration to her and her kids and then she asked an inspired question. "Will your religion save me?"
We get forms of this question all the time. But it's usually like, "for you, does religion save a person?" And they aren't sincerely asking, just wanting to make us say that this one will... But Rose was genuinely interested in the answer. I told her that no religion saves a person. But then I was 100% honest with her and told her that only in this church is the authority that is necessary to be saved. I gave the example of baptism. We explained about priesthood again, and she really understood and appreciated the answer. Sometimes it's hard to be so frank with people because you don't want them to think the wrong thing about the church, but they have to know the truth.
It was strange, the path that led us to Rose, and kind of long because I've known that first family FOREVER. But in the end (at the begining?), I feel like we've touched at least 3 families. We're going to keep going back to them all, and I hope they can progress.
Oh, and Bijie worked with us yesterday. She's got a rock solid testimony, and she's so willing to share it. I have no worries that she'll go inactive.
Man, I love my job.
Just one more email!
Love,
Sister Adams
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