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!!

School's Out!! July 27, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

So this week was good :) Probably walked like twenty miles at least, but hey its so good for me :) I ain't complaining :) So guess who's companion got her visa!! Mine!! She leaves at the end of the transfer so we will be together for one more month! We are so excited! We have been cracking down on Portuguese to help prepare her as much as possible! 

So this week we were able to teach a Brazilian named Bia. We took her on a church tour and she wants to be baptized! But.. we weren't able to meet with her again afterwards.. so we will find her again this week! She is really open to learning more and I have hope that she will be baptized! And its good practice for Sister Crump :) 

One of my weaknesses i feel has been street contacting. I haven't really done a ton of it, but her it is mostly what we do! Its really fun, and I'm getting a lot better. Sister Crump is still quiet, but I'm trying to beat that out of her! :) Another activity we do is have a booth at the local farmers market! And we make balloon animals! So thats another skill I can say I learned on my mission :) I'm really good at making swords:) 

We had interviews with our mission president and his wife this week. Holy cow. They are incredible.. I want to carry them around with me because they have such a love and confidence about them! She has a masters in marriage and family counseling and he was an institute teacher at USU. So she gets things out of you you didn't know were in there, and he is a scripture machine. I can already tell a difference in my attitude and mentality. It was amazing and I just adore them! She gave me some amazing advice to face the challenges that I have right now. She just pumps me up. 

So like I said above.. School is out. that means we won't be that busy because most of the members are out of town, and campus is empty. So pray that we will be able to fulfill our purpose and much as we can this week! We are still getting to know a lot of the members and there was been little miracles every day! Its so cool because as a missionary, you actively seek miracles. And when you do that you actually see what the Lord does for us each day! :) Well have a good week :) Love you all!!

--

Love,

Sister Adamson

Moscow!!! July 20, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

This is my new address!! 

274 Baker Street #111

Moscow, ID 83843

So holy crap welcome home Jack!! I'm so happy you are home!! So I was given false information last week.. turns out I'm in married student wards.. and we swept into two wards. So I'm over three different wards. Missionary work is a lot different here. We spend most of the day street contacting on campus. And its summer school.. and summer school ends next week.. so its empty now, but it will be even more empty next week... So missionary work is hard here. When I got transferred here everyone told me how the work is dead here. I didn't want to believe them, but it kind of is. Its hard to get busy, college kids, and young families excited about missionary work. But I still have faith that things will start happening here!

So we walk a lot more than Sister Adamson is used to.. haha so she's a little sore to say the least.. haha but its good for me :) I really enjoy talking to people, and I'm good at making conversations not awkward (for the most part). So I've come a long way :) So I have cute Sister Crump!! She is a visa waiter to Brazil so we get to study Portuguese together! And its way different then I thought it was! But thats fun! Its fun training her, and I can really see my growth since I came out. I feel like I was just like her when I came out so hopefully I'll be able to help her avoid the things that were tripping me up a bit at the beginning! We get along really well :) 

So the wards we are in are all combined during sacrament now and holy moly was it loud!! I have never had such a hard time listening in EVERY meeting because the kids were insane! So this is more motivation for me to get my kids reverent for sacrament meeting.. So its going to be hard having spiritual Sundays in that aspect, but hey thats the way the cookie crumbles :) 

So like I said, I can really tell now that I have a new area, and senior comp how much I've grown. Things I was struggling with a lot at the beginning, like having faith, hope, charity come to me much easier now! Its really cool to see. I'm very grateful for my mission so far, and I'm loving the things I am learning! I love the scriptures, and they really have come to life for me. I've seen things from my patriarchal blessing come true as I am doing my best here! I'm so grateful for that! :) Love you all!! Thanks for all the support!

-- 

Love,

Sister Adamson

Bye Bye Sandpoint!!‏ July 13, 2015

Dear Family and Friends!

Well I have finally been transferred! I thought I didn't want to leave, but I'm actually very excited about it :) So i'm second training a visa waiter to Brazil! So I get to maybe pick up some Portuguese with her! So thats exciting :) Her name is Sister Crump and I get to meet her tomorrow! I'm going to Moscow, Idaho and am going to be over three YSA wards! WHOO! So that will be a new adventure! 

This last week was awesome! We had great lessons with the Bakers, and he is working more on quitting smoking and he came to church! We made a lot of progress with Tabitha his girlfriend and shes starting to read the Book of Mormon! So thats exciting! Hopefully they will continue to progress! Also we (Well not my anymore) are going to start teaching Amy the YSA age girl again! We had a great lesson with her about the Holy Ghost and she had lots of questions! Also a YSA named Courtney moved in with her boyfriend.. but he is going to start taking the discussions!! So she will be reactivated and he will be baptized :) Also John (the one with cancer) is doing well and we had two new investigators Leandra and Steve! So I don't know what we did this week to be so blessed, but it was awesome to see! Such blessings from the Lord :) 

So I am bummed that I won't be able to participate in girls camp anymore.. but thats ok. I just love the young women so much! We were able to go to their class this last Sunday and man i was bawling.. We were just talking about ordinances like baptism and temple sealing. But the spirit was so strong and just testified to me of the blessings of being members of this church. ETERNAL FAMILIES!! Such comfort we all can have from that knowledge. 

So Sister Ellis and I are leaving each other on a really good note. We had a great week and I really feel I learned (most of) the lessons Heavenly Father wanted me to. I just feel so blessed to have been in Sandpoint so long. I love it here so much and I will miss all the amazing families and people i was able to work with! So her goes another adventure!! :) Let you know next week how it goes :) Also.. My address WILL change! So dont send me a letter until i get my new one! :) Thank you muchly :) Love you all!!! 

Love,

Sister Adamson

PS WELCOME HOME JACK!!!! LOVE YOU!!

New Mission Pres!! July 6, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

We got to meet our new mission president and his wife this week! They are awesome! And I can already tell I'm going to connect with them way better than my last ones! Much more down to earth and real. So I'm excited! 

So this week we had an awesome lesson with the Bakers. We had some priest in the ward come over and give him a blessing and one on his home as well. It was super spiritual. They gave him so much support and encouragement, which is what he needs. I was able to testify of the Atonement and its reality to him. I said how there is no way the Savior would do what he did, if he didn't think we could do it. I have never felt the spirit working through so strongly. I almost started crying when I was speaking to him. We made a lot of progress with Tabitha his girlfriend too. She is just starting to trust us a lot more. She just works on Sundays so she can't ever come.. But I really love this family and I want them to be happy. Its that darn agency.. They have a long ways to go, but they can do it with Christ!! I know it!!

On the Fourth we were able to the the Sandpoint parade with Katie and Chad Karr who are in our ward. Katie (Bowen) went to Alta and her younger brother is my age and is getting home from his mission this week! Crazy!! But they invited their non-member co worker so we got to meet her! And her name is Emilee! She is 19 and a sweetheart from Canada! She hopefully we will get the ball rolling on that! Then we just worked all day. We went to a BBQ with some members then another BBQ with the people in our apartment complex. Yes they were all not members and smoking and such haha. But they invited us! And now they know a little bit about the church and that we are normal people! So that was good :) 

We had a lot of tender mercies this week! Its been great up here in Sandpoint! Almost been six months up here! Our stake president wants us to participate in girls camp and relate to them and help them in any way that we can! Because its scary to be a teenage girl right now. I'm so excited for this opprotunity! I love working with the youth! But girls camp is after transfers next week.. so we will see.. I want to stay for that, and President Ballard is calling our mission president trying to convince him to let us stay another transfer :) so we will see! We will find out next week!! 

I have gained such a testimony of the scriptures and the power they have! Always be reading them, because they are the how to book on happiness! You Hear Me!?!?!? Anyways, love you all! Have a great week!

-- 

Love,

Sister Adamson