1 Year In Spokane! January 25, 2016

Dear Family and Friends! 

It's so weird that it's been a year since I entered the mission field. It has gone by so fast. This last week was good! Full of blessings and challenges as always!!

I was able to go on exchanges with Sister Bryson this week!! Whoo!! It was nice to get to work with her again and see her growth! I love watching missionaries grow and change. I just hope I'm also growing and changing along with them! So that was fun! :) While we were together we had dinner at a semi-crazy less actives house. We were eating lentil, bean, and onion, and a mystery meat soup on our laps (no table). And I got distracted and about half of the hot soup just started spilling on my lap.. So that was delightful. But as always I recovered with grace and dignity :) haha 

So this week we did a lot of.. whats the word again? Oh ya. TRACTING. And can I tell you how much that is not a fun thing to do. We are really frustrated with the lack of support the ward is giving us. Their priorities are elsewhere, yet they expect success in their missionary efforts. Its hard to get people to come out to lessons with us, and even support a recent convert in our ward who is really struggling. Its so frustrating. To help with that however, we had a zone conference that bishops, ward mission leaders, and other leaders were invited to attend. (I will say that Brother Frederickson was there! So yay to the Hawks family! The Fredericksons are great) It really united members and missionaries. Our mission president said that members aren't here to help the missionaries in their work, it's the other way around. Missionaries are here for members! So I think that really sunk into our bishop's mind. At ward council he said at the beginning, "I feel that we have been letting our sisters down. We need to be the ones finding and they should just be teaching." I almost cried. Because Sister M and I have really been trying hard to find new people with little success and it does get discouraging. So I'm looking forward to the changes that will begin to happen here! 

Other than that, our less actives and part member families are doing well! We had so many returning at church there on Sunday! Nothing better then sitting at church and seeing who is there, knowing that you had a small part of getting them there! Its always such a tender mercy to just be an instrument in the Lord's hands. Like I said before, all it takes is to invite someone. Sister Makovei and I have so much fun together. She makes me laugh so hard I cry. She still is working on her English so its fun to decipher words she is trying to say. It's been great to have her as a companion. She makes it fun for me :) So thats a big blessing. She leaves next week, just before the end of our transfer. So president might put us into a trio. We had a meeting with the zone leaders, stake president, mission president, and us and in the meeting they said they might switch up which wards have elder and which have sisters. So I wouldn't be surprised if something crazy happens this transfer!! :) Time will tell!! well I love you all!! :) Hope you have a great week!! 

Love,

Sister Adamson

Ups and Downs January 19, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was full of just what I said. Ups and downs. The mission sometimes pushes you to your absolute limit, and when you feel you can't take anymore, God blesses you so so much. I have such a testimony that God has the full perspective and we are just little ants trying to figure out how to drive in the snow without snow tires without dying (for the record we only got stuck once this week). This week was extremely challenging.. Lots of crazy people and lots of trying to find those who have been prepared to receive the gospel. Sister Makovei and I have been pushed to our limit--spiritually, physically, and emotionally, and as a result we grew and were so blessed this week. 

I have learned many lessons this week. First of all, I'm studying the Addiction Recovery Program booklet in the morning and that book has been changing how I see myself and my weaknesses. If you haven't heard of or read this book--do it! Its amazing. It has helped me realize that even though I feel like I'm a strong, capable, and independent person--I still need the help from my Savior. I have had such sincere prayers and really felt a strong communication with Heavenly Father this week. I have felt His love and the Atonement strengthening me so much. I feel that's what God has been trying to teach me my whole mission--that I need His help, but I've been too stubborn to listen. 

I also learned how truly the gospel improves ALL aspects of our lives. Our families, homes, cleanliness for goodness sake (I'm constantly surprised of the people that just can't keep their homes in order), friends, jobs, and just emotional well being. We had Stake Conference this weekend and it was all about strengthening families. I'm so grateful for that aspect of the gospel. I have learned so much from such strong members of the church on how they live the gospel in their home and the difference in makes in their lives. 

So enough of the cheesy lesson learned things.. This week we did a LOT of tracting trying to find new people. We have had lots of success working with the ward list finding part member families, but most of them just aren't quite ready yet. So tracting it is. As I said earlier, we were so blessed this week. We have been so tired of talking to just crazy people, so we changed the areas we worked in and we found two celestial streets!! Where (almost) everyone was so nice! And from that we have a new investigator we will meet with later this week. Even though tracting is usually the last thing I want to do, God gave Sister M and I strength and the motivation to do it. We were tracting queens :) haha 

Even though this week was hard in all ways possible I have grown so much and I can see the Atonement working in my life and I'm so grateful for that!! I love you all and thank you for all the support and love you show me! :) It means so so much!! 

Love,

Sister Adamson

Sometimes I don't know how to title my email.. January 11, 2016

Dear Family and Friends!! 

This week was great and went by super fast!! Getting the hang of things here in Spokane and some really cool blessings are coming to us! First of all I want to relate a little bit of what I learned at this week's MLC (missionary leadership council). We talked about D&C 93 and discussed how Christ received a fulness of grace, truth and light from our Heavenly Father, and because of Him, we too can receive that same fullness. I read this section before the meeting and DID NOT getting anything remotely close out of it as did our mission president. But basically what we learned is that to receive grace and to gain the fulness of grace, we must give grace. We do that by serving others and loving others. That's why callings in this church is so important. We give service to others and enable them to grow. And in return, we develop a greater ability to love and serve. Is essence we gain grace. If that made sense to you--great. haha We spent a lot longer discussing it! But it was really good!! 

So some things that happened this week!! We are still working with Brother Niemi. He is doing so well! The Lord has prepared him to come back to church after over 20 years! All we did was show up at his door one night! It is never too late to receive the blessings of the gospel and enjoy membership is God's church! We had an amazing thing happen this week as well! After 4 years of being inactive, Sister Long came to church!! And her non-member husband! Once again, the Lord prepares people so well. All we did was call her number from the ward list a few weeks ago, and she gladly let us come over. Sometimes, people are just waiting for someone to invite them, and to support them as they make these, often times, hard changes in their life. We just need to be the ones to invite! And we all can do that! Missionary or not! 

We also had a cool experience this week! We were looking for an address and we saw a lady outside and she kind of avoided us at first, but then we had an opportunity to talk to her and did! She recognized us as someone who could help her, which was really cool. She told us a lot of her story and she is going through a lot of problems right now. She has been on medications and lots of other things, so she's not all the way there. But she has a desire to change and is wanting to be better. We testified to her of the Atonement--its healing power--and of God's love for her. She started crying and we invited her to church. She didn't come this last Sunday, but we will keep trying. She has a big hole to get out of, but nowhere is too deep that the Savior can't save you. I heard a cool quote this week, "If you feel you are drowning in life, just remember, your lifeguard can walk on water." If we don't see her again, I know that we were there at that time, to make sure she knew God loved her, and to remind her to not give up. From that experience I know that God loves ALL of us. No matter where we are in life. 

This week we only got stuck twice in our car. Luckily the Lord always watches out for us and there are always super nice and capable people that pull us out! Its great! haha I'll send a picture of one and you can debate how we even got there in that position in the first place! We had a missionary gathering at our stake president's house for breakfast this week! They made the best pumpkin belgian waffles ever!! And Sister Adamson might have had three.. haha and the last one was a competition to see who could eat one the fastest.. peer pressure got me into that one.. haha I didn't win because elders are crazy.. haha but still did pretty good :) haha So that was fun! We also did some Russian work with my companion, and I used the gift of tongues to figure out what they were talking about :) works pretty well :) haha Russians are very nice, but not interested.. very strong baptists and pentecostal. But it was a cool experience anyways :) Well that was my week! Love you all!!! 

Love,

Sister Adamson

New Years!! January 4, 2016

Dear Family and Friends! 

This week was a very challenging one as well. The week after the holidays people sure are grumpy. On New Years Eve we tracted for five hours because we didn't have any appointments. I learned that the people here in Spokane are not very nice.. haha Makes me miss my small towns of Sandpoint and Moscow. So Sister M and I really struggled staying positive and not letting things get us down. We really know that the Lord is preparing people her for us and we are trying so hard to find them!! 

With all the obstacles and the freezing cold this week, we were able to still have some miracles :) First of all Brother Niemi. We found him going through the ward list. He has been inactive since he was a deacon. He recently has had many trials in his life that have brought him back to God and a desire to follow Him again. We taught him the restoration and the plan of salvation this week. He has almost no gospel knowledge so he is basically an investigator. He is so humble, teachable, and sincere. The lessons with him are soo spiritual. I love teaching the gospel. I all I did each day was teach appointments all day long, I don't think I would be coming home anytime soon.. haha But missionary work is a lot more than that! He also came to church this week for the first time in years. He stayed all three hours and enjoyed it so much! The ward really embraced him! :) 

Next, we had the family the live out in the boonies where Sister Adamson got herself stuck in a snow bank :) haha that we went and saw again. Her husband that's not a member participated in the lesson and it was also very spiritual! We had a member come named Sister Lund. She is in her 60s and is amazing. She reminds me of my mom and my grandma. After we were at her house for dinner awhile ago she said I reminded her of herself when she was younger. That to me was a HUGE compliment, because of the people I associated her with. I love that about missions. The people we get to meet. I'm continually amazed by the members of the church wherever you go. 

Also this last Sunday was amazing. I love fast and testimony meeting. It really is what you put into it determines the spirit you feel. I love bearing my testimony each time. I'm surprised on how easy is it for me now. Sister M also bore a very strong testimony. She is one of those people that has tasted the opposite side of life with no gospel because she is a convert. Every time she bears her testimony, she makes people cry. One day I will reach that level.. haha I just love our ward. We have been struggling getting to know the members because of the holidays and such, but our ward mission leader was a boss and told the ward council how much we have been tracting and the ward jumped on board to help us out! So this week should be much much better :)

I think i can say that I have had one of the all-time worst meals so far on my mission this week.. We helped a hoarder family organize some things. We were covered in dust. Then she brings out this chicken and dumpling something. It was so gross.. She even pulled out a hair from it, right in front of us, before she dished us up some.. I though I was going to throw up.. Sister M almost did.. it was discussing.. So that one will go down in my memory for life. On that note, have a great week :) love you all! Love this work, and love my Savior :)

Love,

Sister Adamson

Happy New Year!! December 28, 2015

Dear Family and Friends!

I hope you all had a great Christmas! It was one of my favorites! Talking to you all was great and I loved it! It was great to see all your lovely faces!! Such a blessing! :) 

So just to summarized this last week a bit. We recieved a lovely gift from one of our recent converts in our ward! They are from the Chuk Islands. (don't know how to spell it). She sewed us pillow cases and dresses that we wore at church! I felt like a sister in Hawaii for a day wearing it :) it was awesome! The Sams are older and have very little, but almost every time we go over there they give us something! And she was slaving away trying to make gifts for people in the ward. They are great and I will send a picture! 

We were able to find a part member family in the boonie part of our area! She is wanting to come back to church and cried during our simple lesson with her. It was just another testament to me that when people become inactive, they miss it. They may be happy and doing ok, but they know something is missing. The gospel really does fill holes we don't even know were there. It fills us with such peace and knowledge. So after our visit, we drove away on the ice roads in our dumb little car (which the kind of car we drive still escapes me). Sister Adamson may have been driving a bit too fast and drove into a snow bank.. we were so deep in it that I couldn't get out the driver's side... Whoops.. So there was only one house within a mile from where we were. So we got out and ran there! It was a nice young man that owns a farm, but her husband wasn't home. So she warmed up her huge Ford truck and tied some kind of scout knot and pulled our car out. It was amazing. The Lord takes care of his missionaries that's for sure! I also learned I need to learn how to tie knots like a scout does.. but that will be for a later time I suppose.. haha :) 

So we did lots of caroling and dropping of gifts to potential investigators, recent converts, and less actives! It was fun to see how happy people got after we gave them something so simple! It was really a happy time :) I love the feeling of giving! I felt that a lot this Christmas! So it was great!! 

So after we went to normal life, we contacted a media referral we got named Judy. It went something like this. She had a Target name tag on with the name Judy on it. We asked if she was Judy and she said no. I said, "Do you work at Target?" And she, "Yes" I said, "Oh well your name tag says Judy," And she said, "Oh well I had to borrow a tag," LIKELY STORY!!!! It was so funny. Sister M and I have a thing now where we go oh Judy from target. It makes us happy :) Haha But this week was great!! We are both staying here until February and both are STLs here. So that will be fun!! :) Well love you all!! Happy New Year!!

Love,

Sister Adamson

Christmas Pictures!!

Spokane Falls!

Christmas tree with pictures and the handprints of Harper and Ryder

New Convert Kara

Merry Christmas! December 22, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Well it has been an interesting week. Lots of blessings and hard things. I will always agree with the statement that a mission is the worst best thing you could do to yourself. With the passing of my Grandpa yesterday I have learned a lot about the healing of service. We missed a call from our Mission President and I knew what that meant.. So we pulled over in the blizzard we were having and called him back. He was so sweet about it and we took a little bit to cry before our next appointment. At that appointment and all the others we had that night, I didn't think about it once. I was just focusing on the people and making them happy. It didn't hit me until later that night after our day was over. I will miss him so so much, and it will be weird without him there when I get back, but I know I'm closer to him now then when he was alive. Its not easy being away from you all at this time, but I know this is where gramps wants me to be. Like my mom said to me, now he is just serving alongside me now! So that will help give me strength. I feel so much better when I focus on others and their struggles rather than my own. I'm not perfect at it, but I have felt the difference of it.

I also had a lesson this week about how when you are in a rut, the only way to get out of it is to work. Sister M and I had an awesome start to the week. Then it all went capoie. We went on exchanges and when we came back, we lost our grove. We had a few hard days. Tracted a TON. Met some nice and not so nice people. We were getting frustrated about how slow the work was moving along. We were talking about things we could do to change it and make it better and work smarter. We had a few ideas, but then just went out and worked. We had a few little miracles with some less actives on our ward list that we had no idea who they were and had awesome conversations with people. At the end of the day we felt so much better about what we were able to do. As long as we are trying and working (doing our part) Heavenly Father will bless us. Whether its with baptisms or our personal growth. 

I love this time of year and am so happy to be a missionary now! Its sad when we see all the many people who celebrate Christmas and don't even believe in Christ. Its been mind-blowing! So always keep the real meaning behind it. I know Christ, our Savior, was born for us. I know He loves us and has experienced all our pain and struggles. I know that He personally knows each and everyone of us. My testimony of this grows each day. So Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy your families and the true spirit behind it all! 

I just got back from the temple! While I was praying for comfort in the celestial room, I was trying to focus and think about grandpa and grandma. I was trying to picture them there with me! I was comforted to feel and picture how they were reunited in heaven. I know that they are so happy to be together again. I'm so grateful for the knowledge we have of eternal families and what it means to all of us. I love the temple so so much! 

Manito is good! We are getting ourselves around here a lot better and the ward here is amazing. I've never felt so much love so fast! I can't wait to talk to you soon!! Be safe!! 

Love,

Sister Adamson