Tuesday June 12th

Bonjour famille and other gents!

The MTC is the best! I have finally settled in and accepted whole heartedly that the hour of my mission has come.  I have been preparing for this time in my life, for my entire life, and I’ m so glad to finally say it has come!  I am serving a mission because the Lord loves me and relies on me to share his message with the people of FRANCE, PARIS.  My district is so legit. Elder Lavering (comp), Walton, Hatch, Smith, and Gardner are some of the coolest peeps I have ever met.  And sister Horn, Weller, and Searle are legitimate as well. We all get along so well, I feel like I have known these Elders my whole life. District 46 H definitely brings the swag.

My French is still a little rusty (actually a lot rusty) but everyday here I am continuing to try my “heart-est.”  I hope and pray continually for the gift of tongues but I know that will never happen until I have done my part. Learning French is definitely the hardest thing I have ever been asked to do but with the Lord on my side anything and everything is possible. The food here wasn’t to bad at first but it is progressively getting worse.  My stomach makes noises like all day (food be straight killin my stomach) and I’m pretty sure I have gained like 5 pounds.  This is not GOOD.   To try to loose this extra weight I have been playing hardcore ball during my GYM time haha. By hardcore I mean I play everyday with 4 Division One ballers. They will al be playing after their mission at UNLV, Boise State, Weber State, and Utah.  Me and the Elder K (UNLV) have gotten to be good friends.  He is seriously one of the best ballers I’ve ever seen and played against in my life. He is going to Paris as well so I’m sure we will stay tight. I would be lying if I said I was even close to as good as they are, but Willard (me) reps hard out there.  Okay I’ll stop bragging, back to the real world.

That is so awesome that you guys are going to Florida!  That sounds like a lot better vacation this  Jail I be living in haha just kidding (not really). And yes mom Poppa Tom has kept his word like Poppa Tom always does and has been sending me Tommy’s letters. They’re really fun to read. His letter two weeks ago might have given me too much credit haha, don’t believe it people. I can’t wait till HDF (Hadley Doyle Faught) comes to the MTC.  Like I know zero people here. Waking up has actually not been that hard (surprisingly). I have finally gotten used to the horrible habit of the early bird lifestyle (see what I did there). Umm and to answer you last question I get a $6 dollar allowance each week. Not a whole lot. Oh, and thank you so much for the money you snuck into my pockets!  I have the best Parents dans la monde (world)!  Thanks for being awesome!

This week I got the opportunity to here Elder Holland’s talk from years ago at the MTC titled, "Missions are Forever."  Please go and watch this;   people who have served, want to serve, or are about to serve a mission. It is the most powerful thing I have ever heard.   This talk alone has changed my life forever. Quick part of what he said because I am out of time- The mission will be the hardest time of your life but also the most rewarding.  Don’t serve a mission if you are not going to give everything you have to the Lord.  We need to be our first convert!  I can’t teach someone else that the Book of Mormon is true if I myself do not know it yet.  My every word thought and deed need to be about God and his Kingdom for these next two years if I want to be an excellent missionary. I love when he banged the pulpit and said, "get pumped up to be a missionary!"  HAHA he gives a mean pep talk, and the last quote I loved from this talk was "Why is being a missionary hard?  It’s hard because salvation is not a cheap experience."  Such a life Changer!

I LOVE you all and I’m so grateful for the roles you've played in my life. Stay awesome!

Hugs and Kisses XOXO

 #ChurchIsTrue

Tuesday, June 5th

Bonjour Famille!

The last couple of days have been insane. I feel at times that my brain is going to explode from learning all this French stuff, and all of the gajillion other things you learn in the MTC. My testimony and knowledge have doubled in just the last five or so days all thanks to the MTC. That’s not saying much but ya’ll catch my drift haha this place is amazing for realz.  I’m not going to lie and say this place is fun cuz that would be a lie, but I know that this Jail (MTC) is crucial for me if I want to be a successful missionary when I am finally ready to hit The City of Love. On just the second day being here I got called as the District President.  Its definitely not an easy calling but I can already tell how important it is going to be for my growing as a missionary. Every Sunday and Tuesday and Wednesday I have meetings to attend with this calling plus a schedule packed of a day with the normal things missionaries do here. I feel like I’m still not even sure how to take care of myself haha but now I have been asked to take care of my entire district.  Crazzzzy haha.  My compagnon missionnaire  (missionary companion) is a stud. His name is Elder Lavering and he’s from Seattle, Washington.  Since day one we have gotten along great and he has taught me so much in so little time. It’s a good thing he has a sense of humor like me because if he didn’t I’m pretty sure I might die in here, haha. He is hilarious. We have already taught two discussions in French to an investigator.   All I can say are some lines of French that I have memorized and I usually say the prayer because that’s about all I can do in French thus far. Elder Lavering is a stud and has already picked up a ton of French and can somewhat respond to the investigators questions.  I pretty much just sit there lookin like a blank faced tard.  I can actually understand what the Frenchie is saying to us but I’m still not sure how to respond. It may 'much French so far its crazy, but I’m still trying to learn how to let it come out of my mouth with a French accent.  I’m not to good yet at pronunciation so I sound like a real loser. The food here really isn’t that bad, and believe it or not, WILLARD (Miles nickname from Footloose) IS ACTUALLY EATING SMALL PORTIONS OF FOOD.  There has only been one day when I have kinda sorta pigged out, the day they brought ice cream haha.  I have successfully tied my tie for five straight days without any help!  I never even had to ask actually, it just kinda came to me haha.

Today I got to go to the temple. It was seriously amazing. The Provo Temple is beee-uuu-tafull (belle). Throughout much of the session I thought so much about moi famille et amies.  I miss you guys so much, but I love being on a mission and I know it is so worth it.  Wearing a missionary tag and being a messenger of the Lord is something I have waited for my whole life.  It still feels crazy that I am finally on my mission but it’s finally settling in.

Love Elder Adams.

Bonsoir!

1st Letter from Elder Adams

May 31, 2012

Dear Mother and Father,

Hopefully you guys are done crying by now, ha ha.  The MTC is legit!  It feels so surreal to be wearing a missionary name tag.  My new companion is Elder Lavering.  He is a pretty sweet dude.  He is from Seattle Washington and went to college for two semesters at BYU.  We have a lot in common and are getting along better than I could have ever imagined.  Usually I will not be allowed to write you until Tuesday (because that's my "P" day), but the MTC President told us to write out parents and let them know we are still alive!  The MTC reminds me so much of college.  I live in a tiny room with my companion and 4 other missionaries.  All of the other Elders are fluent Spanish speakers because they have been here for nine weeks.  They will be leaving next Wednesday so hopefully our room will only have 4 in it once they leave.  Each room is only made for two companionship's (4) but they are doing construction on other apartments so we are really crowded.  So for the first week I will be living out of my suitcase. 

The food at the MTC is suprisingly good.  Yesterday for dinner we had some steak thing and it looked so gross, but for some reason I liked it (fatty).  My roommates and companion almost puked when they ate it.  My classroom teacher, Brother Gundersen, is a stud.  He will be teaching me and my district (9 of us) for the next nine weeks.  Almost everyone is going to France in my district, except for my companion who will be serving in the Congo, Africa.  I looked on a may and it is pretty close to where Garrett served.

I love you guys so much and am blessed to be serving a mission.  There is no where else I'd rather be!

Love Elder Adams

One last KISS!

Learning to tie a tie (yes the morning he entered the MTC)

Elder Adams double-checking his MTC report time Wednesday morning.