Timely B-day :) August 17, 2015

Dear Family and Friends!!

Thank you for all the birthday wishes! I'm continually amazed at how many people remembered :) So thank you! I think I was born this week 20 years ago, because God knew I would be at one of the hardest times of my mission! So all the extra love was really needed and helped me so much :) 

This week we had zone conference with our mission president and his wife. It was on Thursday and our mission president's wife had us visualize things. First it was growing up, preparing for mission, MTC, now, and when we got home, and wait for it wait for it... "Imagine your are at the altar with your eternal companion." Ugg.. This happened right at the time I think Dallin came home, but what do I know? Haha So that was rough.. I had to go outside and re-focus myself a bit. But I was able to push through that day. But I did let my natural man take over a bit here and there.. And just thought, "This is too hard. Is this even worth it?" But of course, I know what the answer is. It is so worth it. I know Heavenly Father called me on this mission at this time for a reason. And I'm going to find out why and make every day worth it. My mission has become sacred to me and I can't imagine where I would be without it. Sorry if that was a little personal, but I'm sure plenty of you are wondering if I am sane. And I'm proud to say I am!! (At least I think I am) :)

 

So real quick, crazy guy at the farmers market.. He started talking to us about how Joseph Smith got the BOM from aliens, and how we weren't Christian, because we were giving balloon swords to kids.. People are NUTS!! But don't worry, I kindly rebuked him so we could continue making our balloons without scaring the kids.. haha :) Just thought I'd tell you that! 

So I had a day this week where I just didn't want to be in Moscow. The work here (for now) is pretty slow, and there's a lot of hard-hearted people. I've been praying for their hearts to soften and to find new people to teach EVERY DAY, and expressed my faith and knowledge that I KNOW that God is preparing people for us to teach. Still nothing.. So thats been a little discouraging. So I fasted on Sunday to find my purpose and help love the people more. Guess what? It worked! I received an amazing answer. While someone was speaking at church, she was expressing her experience working in primary and how she felt so inadequate and unprepared for it. But then she realized that she wasn't there to teach the kids, the kids were there to teach her. The spirit just really hit me in that moment. I realized that yes, I'm a missionary and I need to teach the gospel and share what I know to be true, and I will continue to do that, but I realized that the Lord wants me to learn from these people. I must need a lot of help, so God puts me in the path of people that can help me be a better person. I felt such joy and love for all those that I'm serving. That was a HUGE blessing! And I know God answers our prayers :) 

So for transfers this next week, I know I'm getting a new comp, because Sister Crump is headed to Brazil! I'm scared to death that I'm training, because my zone leaders mentioned it on the phone.. I don't think I'm ready to train a brand new missionary.. But if so, please pray for me! Especially with patience! :) Well I love you all :) thank you thank you for all the love! It was helped me so much this week :) Have a great week and remember that God knows your path and knows what you need :) I love you Lord and my Savior so much, and I'm looking forward to strengthening my relationship with Him :)

Sickly Habenero! August 11, 2015

Dear Family and Friends!

Well hello there peeps! Long time to talk! This week has been full of random great things! So first off to explain the title, I got sick for my first time on the mission.. Just a cold but it was no fun. You feel like a lazy.. But I recovered! I think it was the Lord trying to send me a message, because I was going through a hard time and said some little woe is me prayers. Then BAM sick. I think he was saying, hey your life isn't bad and I can make it worse if you don't buck up. So i took that as a humbling experience.. haha I needed it. And I ate a habenero for the first time! It was the elder's idea of course.. I about died.. I DO NOT like spice.. But hey i chomped down a few pieces of bread and i made it! Sister Crump handled it like a champ! (Also while i was still recovering we went to teach the family and i said today we are going to talk about the Roly Ghost.. ya Sister Adamson's brain wasn't quite functioning yet!)

So by the way we play a every man for himself dodge ball game on pday and of course I'm the only sister playing and I kick some elder butt I will say so myself. So this last pday our bishop came in while we were playing and saw me playing, then at church he said in front of the ward to watch out for Sister Adamson if anyone plays dodge ball with me.. haha it was funny yet embarrassing. Anyways.. more important stuff!!

So I got to do my first training at zone training! It was really fun!! I love training and talking with missionaries! It was about Chapter 8 in PMG and about using our time wisely and working on goals! In that chapter is says goals 73 times! Probably more! Just goes to show how important goals are! :) Not only in missions but the rest of our lives! So that was fun! :) 

This week we had a bunch of new families move in for the start of the school year! Its really exciting to see and meet new people! There was this family named the Johnsons and we went and met with them and Sister Crump and I thought hey, this guy could be a great ward mission leader! Because we dont have one yet! And then we met with the bishop and he said the same thing! Spirit it awesome! :) So I'm super excited to work with him! Our ward are getting so much better at missionary work! Its so cool to see! Because when I got here, nothing was happening! But we WILL make it happen!! 

One last thing, we have some really awesome less actives we are working with! I wish I could tell you more about them, but running low on time!! Love you all!! Have a great week and pray always :) 

Crazies :) August 3, 2015

Dear Family and Friends!

Well to start out with, you meet the weirdest people on missions.. At the farmers market we talked to this guy who believes that Jesus was the level 12 avatar.. How do these people function in society?? Well the lesson here is that the more people I meet and learn about their beliefs, the stronger my knowledge is that this is the true gospel! I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel and of Heavenly Father's plan for us! It helps me every day :) 

So I got to go on exchanges to Pullman where WSU is. We street contacted practically all day there. It was fun and there are a lot more people there so we got to talk to a lot of people! It was fun!! Some people look at us so strangely, but then you just start talking to them and help them realized that even though we are missionaries, we aren't there to steal their souls.. haha people just crack me up. 

We got this great training about how to do better street contacts. Instead of asking questions that lead to yes or no answers, like have you heard of our church.. etc. We should ask what they know about Jesus Christ, and what He has meant to them. It may seem obvious to ask more questions like that, but hey we are just missionaries trying to figure it out :) We aren't perfect!! So thats been cool implementing with people. We can connect so much better with people that way, and they really do start opening up to us. Street contacting has been on of my weaknesses I feel. We didn't do much of it in Sandpoint, and now that like all we do. Now I feel that it is almost on of my strengths! I'm becoming a more well-rounded missionary. Its so great to see how Heavenly Father helps you grow!!

We had dinner with on of the bishops this week and it was great! We taught them a lesson about enduring to the end and you could tell they felt the spirit. Thats something I love helping people feel! Another reason why I love being a missionary! The spirit is so real and it touches our lives EVERY DAY! We just have to be looking for it! So on Sunday that same bishop bore his testimony and it was all on missionary work!! He mentioned us and encouraged the all the wards to help us in our missionary efforts! It was so cool!! So the wards are getting a little more missionary minded! We are excited! 

There is a girl who is getting married in two weeks and will be moving into one of our wards named Kimber. Shes not getting married in the temple, because she has been dis-fellowshipped from the church. She still has a good testimony and her fiance is a member as well. We decided to meet with her and we talked to her about God's love for her. Right when we started, she teared up and said "You sisters are so on top of it, stop listening to the spirit!" it was funny :) It was just something she really needed to hear! Just another testimony that this is the Lords work!! Well That was my week! Thank you for all the support and prayers! It really helps!! Love you all!!