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
Monday, February 28, 2011
Zone Conference
was absolutely amazing.
I took tons of notes and I resolved that I don't have enough time left to do everything that I need to do. Truly a spiritual feast. AND I got to sing. Sister Salway and I sang "Sa Tanan nga Tion" which, literally translated, is "At/in all times" but it's a hymn you all know... haha "I Need Thee Every Hour." We ended up being the only ones who sang... oh well.
The baptism was great! Bijie told us that she wanted to jump, and she had a smile plastered on her face all day. I am so blessed to get to see someone who is so filled with joy about the gospel.We met a guy named Steve. He's 19 years old, and got kicked out of his boarding house (I'm not sure why... doesn't really matter), so he's living with a member who, naturally, introduced him to the church. We taught the first lesson, then the next time, we gave him a Book of Mormon which he said he'd read. Then we went back to follow up, and he had read. Then we watched the Restoration video, and he's just a cool investigator. He didn't come to church though, because right before we showed up on Saturday, he just finished doing laundry... and it was a cold night, so he literally had no clothes to wear. I hope he comes next week though.
Speaking of cold... I'm not joking. I sleep with socks and a blanket and a sheet, and I wake up with a cold nose. Granted, I COULD turn off the fan, but the air is just too thick for it to not be moving... I'm not gonna lie, it's been pretty neat to actually say, "I'm cold," and being 100% honest. Yesterday my feet didn't get warm until I left the apartment and stood with them in the sun for a few minutes. Beautiful, just beautiful.
I think that's all for this week!
Love, Sister Adams
I took tons of notes and I resolved that I don't have enough time left to do everything that I need to do. Truly a spiritual feast. AND I got to sing. Sister Salway and I sang "Sa Tanan nga Tion" which, literally translated, is "At/in all times" but it's a hymn you all know... haha "I Need Thee Every Hour." We ended up being the only ones who sang... oh well.
The baptism was great! Bijie told us that she wanted to jump, and she had a smile plastered on her face all day. I am so blessed to get to see someone who is so filled with joy about the gospel.We met a guy named Steve. He's 19 years old, and got kicked out of his boarding house (I'm not sure why... doesn't really matter), so he's living with a member who, naturally, introduced him to the church. We taught the first lesson, then the next time, we gave him a Book of Mormon which he said he'd read. Then we went back to follow up, and he had read. Then we watched the Restoration video, and he's just a cool investigator. He didn't come to church though, because right before we showed up on Saturday, he just finished doing laundry... and it was a cold night, so he literally had no clothes to wear. I hope he comes next week though.
Speaking of cold... I'm not joking. I sleep with socks and a blanket and a sheet, and I wake up with a cold nose. Granted, I COULD turn off the fan, but the air is just too thick for it to not be moving... I'm not gonna lie, it's been pretty neat to actually say, "I'm cold," and being 100% honest. Yesterday my feet didn't get warm until I left the apartment and stood with them in the sun for a few minutes. Beautiful, just beautiful.
I think that's all for this week!
Love, Sister Adams
Monday, February 21, 2011
February 21
for lack of a better subject line/ title.
This week was... wait, I swear I already emailed this week... wait... that was last week... oh man...
We have Zone Conference this next week, and I get to sing!
Well, I say I get to sing. There's a group that already has the musical number, and it's only our Zone, but I REALLY want to do a musical number for my last conference so we're just gonna show up and be like, "Hey, we're gonna invite the spirit twice as much! We get two musical numbers!" Yep, Sister Salway and I are gonna try and put something together...
I'm not gonna lie, this week was kind of a blur, and nothing in particular sticks out...
Except that BETH CAME TO CHURCH AGAIN! Thank you everyone that is praying for her success. I am SO happy. I think I might actually get to see her enter into the waters of baptism. :D
Keep praying for the success of the missionary work here, your prayers are heard and answered.
Love Sister Adams
This week was... wait, I swear I already emailed this week... wait... that was last week... oh man...
We have Zone Conference this next week, and I get to sing!
Well, I say I get to sing. There's a group that already has the musical number, and it's only our Zone, but I REALLY want to do a musical number for my last conference so we're just gonna show up and be like, "Hey, we're gonna invite the spirit twice as much! We get two musical numbers!" Yep, Sister Salway and I are gonna try and put something together...
I'm not gonna lie, this week was kind of a blur, and nothing in particular sticks out...
Except that BETH CAME TO CHURCH AGAIN! Thank you everyone that is praying for her success. I am SO happy. I think I might actually get to see her enter into the waters of baptism. :D
Keep praying for the success of the missionary work here, your prayers are heard and answered.
Love Sister Adams
Monday, February 14, 2011
Pagpalangga
Love :D Happy Valentines day!
This week, I have been studying Charity and Love (not at all in correlation with Valentines day...really, this day has very little meaning if you've got a black plastic name plate). I just feel like I need to develop my Christlike attributes, and I got started with charity. We taught a cool lesson yesterday to some members who haven't been to church in a while. My companion started and explained what the blessings of church attendance are, and the whole time I just had this overwhelming feeling like I needed to tell them I love them and that whether or not they come to church, I love them just the same. I know that it helped them, and I think they will even come to church next week. I am so grateful for the pure love of Christ that I have an opportunity to share with people. I get to tell people all day how much God loves them, and then watch them ponder that idea while I explain that I love them too. It's really neat because you can just see it sink in, and then I know I was a tool in Heavenly Father's hand to lift someone higher.
Nothing really new with Bijie, she's still on for the 27th. She's basically the coolest investigator I've had since Brother Gallo back in Silay. She asked me about obtaining a quad. They are so insanely expensive, so I just explained that the triple and bible have the exact same thing in them, and she's cool with that. But she's shy to ask bishop about it, haha, I get to order it for her. And for sure it won't be here for her baptism, but maybe it'll make it before I leave... maybe.
I love being a missionary. It hit me yesterday how much I love it, and how fulfilling it is. And how incredibly difficult it is to explain to another person. So I guess the only solution is to do it yourself, find out how great being a missionary feels! And find out how great being a missionary IS for other people!
Palangga ko kamo tanan!
Palangga ko kamo tanan!
Love,
Sister Adams
Sister Adams
P.S. If you have written me, chances are, I got it, but just haven't gotten around to writing you back. I apologize and promise I am thankful for your support... we'll just talk in a little while, deal?
Annie, nope, I never got your package... :( but the good news, if I send you something on your mission, your chances of getting it are 100%... mail just doesn't get lost in America.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Last Transfer Announcement
and it's not too exciting. And by exciting, it's not too... different. Sister Delcaro is going to "kill" me.. which is what they say about your last companion.
So, cool story about yesterday:
First, Beth came to church! ON TIME!!! AND she closed her store to come to church! (she hasn't been on time in the almost 3 months I've been here). Then, after the lesson in Relief Society, there were some testimonies. Beth stood up, and I was kind of excited for what she would say. Basically, she had some personal problem she was working through that she didn't tell us about, and yesterday morning, she apologized to someone who was part of her problem... probably ALL of her problem. I had this feeling of... relief, or peace, like the puzzle pieces were finally falling into place when she was talking. I feel like I can finally give her a baptismal date, and she'll actually get baptized that day! I've been trying for months to figure out what her concern was, and she finally just resolved it herself (which is REALLY good, because I was nowhere close to figuring it out...) I'm SO excited!
And Bijie is a pretty cool investigator. I don't know if I've told you all about her, but she's pretty much AMAZING! All I gave her for an assignment was to look up scriptures about enduring to the end. And yesterday, when we went to teach her, she had 2 pages of scriptures and descriptions written. Then we asked how her preparation for baptism was going, and she was like, "I'm just a little excited." HAHA, she was almost jumping out of her seat because of how excited she is. "A little" is an understatement. I am also excited for her. :D Yay.
Well, that's all the exciting news from this week... it's been kind of a hard one. Pray for the success of the missionaries in Jaro 2.
Love you all bunches and bunches!
Sister Adams
So, cool story about yesterday:
First, Beth came to church! ON TIME!!! AND she closed her store to come to church! (she hasn't been on time in the almost 3 months I've been here). Then, after the lesson in Relief Society, there were some testimonies. Beth stood up, and I was kind of excited for what she would say. Basically, she had some personal problem she was working through that she didn't tell us about, and yesterday morning, she apologized to someone who was part of her problem... probably ALL of her problem. I had this feeling of... relief, or peace, like the puzzle pieces were finally falling into place when she was talking. I feel like I can finally give her a baptismal date, and she'll actually get baptized that day! I've been trying for months to figure out what her concern was, and she finally just resolved it herself (which is REALLY good, because I was nowhere close to figuring it out...) I'm SO excited!
And Bijie is a pretty cool investigator. I don't know if I've told you all about her, but she's pretty much AMAZING! All I gave her for an assignment was to look up scriptures about enduring to the end. And yesterday, when we went to teach her, she had 2 pages of scriptures and descriptions written. Then we asked how her preparation for baptism was going, and she was like, "I'm just a little excited." HAHA, she was almost jumping out of her seat because of how excited she is. "A little" is an understatement. I am also excited for her. :D Yay.
Well, that's all the exciting news from this week... it's been kind of a hard one. Pray for the success of the missionaries in Jaro 2.
Love you all bunches and bunches!
Sister Adams
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