E-mail 9-3-12

Family,

To answer your question letters and packages are free to receive here. But that doesn’t mean you need to send them. Those things are expensive! Save the money and take dad on a hawt date or something. I’m sure he would love that, nes pas? Sounds like things are going well back home. That’s awesome. Y’all deserve the best! That’s pretty sweet that its already football season. Not that it matters or that I even care but I hope the R aiders bring the swag this year. #LoveThem. Sounds like your first week of school went good. Your so lucky that you get to teach Booner Ray (Ryan).  Kids a stud.  Do me a favor and never call him Ryan in class because that’s disrespectful to the south. haha #butSeriously.  Oh and to answer your other questions. I will probably be with my companion for one more transfer. This coming Saturday is transfers! That came fast. There is always a chance of getting transferred but most likely not this time. My companion is a decent cook. He makes some prettty leggit rice and veggies. I can’t complain. We usually just switch off cooking each day. The food is definitely different from the US.  We don’t really eat anything that we eat back home except for chicken and fries. Everything else is way different. For example the milk here is super good but super different.  Milk here doesn’t really expire. It lasts up to four months. Not really sure how they do it? haha. United States should pick up on that ehh. Oh and a lot of the pants I left with don’t really fit anymore. They straight up shrunk. I know you probably think its because I’m getting fat but it isn’t true. Those are just rumors. So far I have lost 9 pounds. Not bad ehh. I am gonna need to buy a couple more pairs of pants here in the next couple weeks. Or I could just go without pants. Whatever happens happens. Ca va.  (I think I answered all of your questions)

This last week has been sooooo good to me. Zone conference was leggit. It was fun meeting a lot of new people. I am the only new missionary in the district so of course they made me introduce myself. That’s always fun. My zone leaders are awesome and really got me pumped up for the work. Sounds weird saying "pumped up" when I’m talking about missionary work but its soo true. Before a basketball game I would usually get pumped up by listening to some dumb rap song (or Taylor Swift) but for missionary work its a little different. Mo Tab and the Book of Mormon (and zone leaders) are what get me pumped up and ready for the game of missionary work. Gotta love it. The Madulla famille is really progressing. They all committed to baptism but they haven’t picked a date yet. They still need to get married so we will have to see how long the whole process takes. Luigi (the dad) is my favorite. He loves going to church. He has already bought a white shirt and tie. Doesn’t sound like much but it really is. They have very little money so it was a sacrifice for sure.  We offered to get him clothes but he wanted to do it on his own. We are going to begin teaching their eleven old daughter on Wednesday because they want her to get baptized as well. I can’t wait!

Ever since I can remember I have been preparing to serve a mission. Staying worthy for a mission is something I have always wanted to do. It wasn’t easy in high school and sometimes I even wondered why I was doing it. But now I KNOW why! I will never forget how happy I was when Ii walked out of the Madullas house last Wednesday. I have been preparing my entire life to serve a mission because of them and whoever else the Lord leads me to for the next two years. Everything is really starting to make sense. Now I know why my parents didn’t want me out late, dating dumb girls (father), or all of the other stupid things that kids do that seem so right at the time but in reality are not worth it. This last week I have really began to understand the importance of being worthy of the spirit and teaching with it. It’s the spirit that is going to lead me and my companion to people who are searching for the gospel and its the spirit alone that teaches and converts people into the gospel. I have been taught this a million times in the MTC and before my mission but it’s finally all become a reality for me. Church has gotten a lot more true this week (but lets be honest, it always was haha). I have also came to realize that this life can be hard at times but that’s okay because that is how the Lord intended it to be! Without trials we wouldn’t learn and progress in this life. I can’t remember who said it but in the MTC if we want to be successful in this life we must "strive, struggle, and desire." He couldn’t have said it any better. #Doctrine.   I’ll just finish with my favorite quote from President John Taylor. "If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to SAVE."   TRUUUUUU THAT.   Love y’all!

Elder Adams

#ChurchIsTrue

#DontForgetIt

#BonSemaine

E-mail 8-26-12

Family,

Thanks so much for the packages! I got them both. The ties, the candy, and the potatoes will all be put to good use! Don’t send any more packages though! That stuff is expensive. Letters and email will do just fine.

This last week has been awesome! A real life changer for sure. But before I explain I’ll try to answer all of your questions. Our apartment is really small but its way leggit. I love it. Both of our beds are on the bottom level and our desks and couch are in the upper loft tree house lookin thing. For dinner we pretty much just cook ourselves. Not gonna lie... I am a pretty dang good cook. We eat a lot of potatoes (mashed and fried), chicken, sausage, and rice. Oh and vegetables. They are really cheap so we have them often. The place where we buy our food is super close so that’s nice. The members rarely feed us except for Patrick. Patrick feeds us every Saturday for lunch. He is the best. Last Saturday we went to Rafaels Fritterie. They were the best fries everrrrr. That place is a real nice treat. I’m sure ill be visiting there again soon. About splits; there are two other missionaries in Charleroi. They have the south and we have the north side. It is split right down the middle of the city pretty much. Tomorrow we are having our first zone meeting so that should be fun. We have to travel by train to Brussels. We don’t get to see President often because there are almost 200 missionaries in the Paris France Mission. Maybe he will be at district meeting tomorrow?  I’m not sure. Probably not. The First Presidency has asked every zone to have a meeting so I am kinda excited and scared to see what is happening haha. I think that should’ve answered most of your questions.

This week our ward had a huge BBQ! It was awesome. A little over a hundred people were in attendance and 40 of them were investigators! I was like a kid in a candy store. I couldn’t stop smiling all night! (and i hate smiling haha) It was such a blessing. All night we were able to talk to non-members and set up some rendezvous (appointments). A lot of Book of Mormons were given away that night and we gave many people a tour of the building. People really loved that. The building here is so nice and is kept in very nice condition by the members.

This week we have really had some progress with our amis! (investigators) The Madulla famille is awesome. They were at the BBQ and for the first time got to meet some members of the ward and see the building for the first time. And they even stayed after and rode home with the Bishop! They have really come a long way. They were found my first week here while porting (knockin down doors). They are having a rough time with a lot of things, but I feel like they are feeling the love that God has for them more and more. The main reason they are feeling His love is because of the Book of Mormon. They love it! They have three kids and they aren’t married. Bizzare nes pas? haha. But we had a discussion last night about marriage and they are really praying and thinking about it. I can’t wait for our next rendezvous on Friday. We have a few others who are progressing well also but I don’t have the time to explain haha I still type so slow! These key boards here are killing me.

Last Wednesday I had my first experience with catholic mass! Last week we were porting and got invited into a house where a man named John Phillips was visiting his dad. The dad didn’t want to hear from us but John said that he did so he gave us his address and told us to give him a visit. So of course we did. Two days later we took a fifteen minute train to... I don’t remember haha. John picked us up at the station and drove us to his house. When he picked us up he was wearing a white robe with a huge wood cross! It was pretty awesome looking. Everyone was staring at the weird lookin Americans in suits and a man in a robe. I'm sure it was quite the site. Once I saw him in the robe I knew things were about to get weird. And they did. He lived in a Catholic village! (same thing as a Amish town pretty much) When we pulled in everyone was wearing these robe things and was heading to the church. Lots of them shook are hands and welcomed us. They really were some nice people. For about a half an hour we got a tour of the mansion and the garden and a few other things. It was pretty awesome. We got to snack on orange juice and cookies down by the creek while discussing the Book of Mormon. John is seriously the nicest person I have ever met in my life. The discussion went well but I’m not sure it had a huge effect on him. He just wanted to know what the Mormons are all about. Well after the tour we got to go to his church! I’m not sure if I should really explain this because I don’t want to be disrespectful or anything. Just know that it was the scariest thing that ever happened to me. The service took place exactly beneath the church in the basement. There was lots of singing and bowing and other things. It was definitely a experience I’ll never forget. Best day of my life probably.

Well that’s about all I got. I hope all is well back at home. Sounds like Dad and Garrett had a good time fishing. That’s the best. Fishing is the best. Life is the best. Oh yeah and that’s pretty awesome that Derek got called as a seminary teacher. Tell him congrats. I’m sure he is pretty pumped about it haha. But on the realz, he would be an awesome seminary teacher. I’m sure the kids will love him. That would be funny if he taught Ali in his class, nes pas?

#ChurchIsTrue   #BelgiumRockz  #LoveYall  #StayAwesome  #xoxo

Avec Amour,

Elder Adamz

E-mail 8-20-12

Mother!
Not gonna lie that is kinda a bummer that school starts up again haha. But enjoy the last week in good old Utah (hate that place). I am sure that you are lovin having Garrett back in town and seeing Whit and Cody as well. Sounds like Garrett did well in NC. Not bad not bad. Tell him if he has a little time to send some of that cash flow this way. I wouldn’t mind a little. Just kidding. I kinda like being a poor missionary. It has really helped with the weight loss. I HAVE LOST 9 POUNDS SINCE LEAVING THE MTC. Not bad eh? Maybe by the time I come back I will be looking like my main man Elder Faught ( six foot four/ 125 pounds) hahahha. We walk many miles throughout each day so I am sure that helps with the weight loss as well. The mission isn’t only helping me with my spirituality but physically as well! haha.

This last week has been a real treat. I got to go on splits for my first time. I got to go with Elder Piper (my district leader). He is the man. He taught me so much. I think the two things I learned the most are the importance of following the spirit during each lesson and talking with EVERYONE. It was fun mixing things up for the first time in Belgium.

Church is always a real treat. The members of the Ward are seriously the nicest people I have ever met. Every one of them always say hi and let me practice speaking French with them. I still don’t understand very well what is going on throughout all of the meetings but that will come with time. This week at church I prayed four times haha. Since I don’t say anything during their lessons, because I have no idea what is going on, they always ask me to say the prayer because they know I am capable of doing that. As soon as I say Amen everyone runs up to me and tells me how good my French sounds hahha   I LOVE these people!

This week has been horrible weather wise. The last three days there has been a heat wave passing through. It was soooo hawt! Humidity and heat are the worst. The first three weeks the weather was amazing so I wasn’t really prepared for all this heat . It is hot everywhere during every time of the day! I have woken up each morning the last couple of days completely drenched. It is even hot in the shade. Thank goodness they didn’t send me to Africa! The people here act like they are gonna die because it has been so hot. It is really not that bad just a big difference from the norm.

All is well on this side of the world. I love you and pray for you everyday. Stay awesome. Stay neat. Keep on keepin on. Love yall!

Father

I am glad to hear that all is going well with the business. Know that I am praying for your success and the family as well. How has the new web site cart been working? Have people been buying stuff on the web site? I sure hope so. Sounds like things are really starting to come around and hopefully by the time I am back you are rollin in the dough so we can play some golf, haha just kidding. How has your golf game been? Hopefully you and mother have had the chance to play a little.

I sent you and mom a letter so it should be here this week. I sent a couple of cute pics with it as well so you can remember how good looking your son is and how much we look alike. We really are some handsome people, nes pas? That is sweet that Garrett is finally home. I am sure he is glad to be done with all that knocking on doors and stuff (I still have two more years of it! and I am loving it! Knocking on doors here is where we find our most success!) and even happier to have the big bucks he got for knocking. I’m sure he will be able to take some girls on some pretty sweet dates with all that money and maybe even pay for college and a new car. You’re lucky all of your kids are genius' eh. And that is awesome that Scott Smith has been tearing it up on the PGA tour since I left. That man is a stud. Hopefully by the time I come back he will have won a couple or something haha, you never know.

I don’t have a lot of time this week to write but just know that all is well on this side of the world. I am loving it more than I could’ve ever imagined. The work is really starting to pick up. We have beacoup des rendez-vous this week! (a lot of appointments). The people here are becoming more lovable with each passing day. But sometimes it can be hard when they try running me over, when they flip me off, and when they throw cigarette buts at me haha. With success comes opposition... so that is OKAY! I love you to the moon and back!  Stay awesome. Stay Schweet!

Avec Amour,
Elder Adamzzz

E-mail 8-16-12

Mother!  Desolet pour not writing back on Monday! Things have been pretty crazy around here.  The reason I switched my pday to today is because we traveled with Patrick today to visit a castle in Namur! (with President's approval of course)  It was sooo much fun.  The chateau wuzzz BEE-UT-iFall!   Like I don't even know what to say about it haha but luckily I took beacoup du pics! (a lot)

Belgium is the besttt!  I remember before I got my mission call I was hoping for a mission with good food (I always did love to eat)... and that is exactly what happened.  The food here is amazingggg!  I can't get enough of it haha.  Belgium has the best chocolate in the world for sure.  They don't play no games with their chocolate. Belgium also has the best gauffres (aka waffle).  I think I've had around ten already?
ooops. Oh yeah and the best food of all is the frites!  Around every corner there are frites. (fries)  My love for potatoes grows bigger each day.  Everybody cooks them different so that gives Elder Adams a reason to try them all ehh. (I have lost 10 pounds so no more fat jokes please hahah)

Lets talk about the real treat here in Charleroi though.  The people!  They are the best.  Not gonna lie, most are a wee bit scary on the outside but on the inside they are tres gentile!   Each day I gain more and more love and respect for them.  We have had many awesome experiences this last week.  Our first meeting with the Madulla famille was schweet.  They are a couple in their fifties with three children. They love the Book of Mormon, they accepted to come to church, and they want to learn more.  Probably the three best things I have ever heard in my life!  The Spirit was so strong during the lesson, probably the strongest I have ever felt it.  I am still struggling with the French but I was able to clearly bear my testimony during the lesson about prayer and about how much the Book of Mormon has changed my life.  French is sooo hard but with the spirit it is POSSIBLE!   We have also been meeting with a man named Mack (an astronaut!)  He is a
genius.  The reason he is meeting with us is because he knows "there is something else out there."   It's true!   There really,  is but with him it is soo hard to teach because his mind is all about numbers and facts, haha, but with time I hope we can help him to gain faith.  Our last meeting with him was a wreck.  I wish not to talk about it haha but we are meeting with him again so hopefully we can redeem ourselves.  We have also been meeting with C.  She has been meeting with the missionaries for nine years haha.   She came to church with us though for the first time in a long time!   That was awesome.  She used  to cook for the Kking of Belgium.  Not sure what that has to do with anything?  haha.  Maybe her time has finally come for baptism?   She has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and is sooo nice so it is possible. Anything is possible, nes pas?

For the first time since i have been on my mission I got the opportunity to do service!   It was soo fun.  I thought I would be just fine without doing manual labor for two years but I was wrong.   I miss it.  We cut down a huge thorn bush tree thingy and cut down a lot of limbs.  It took a lot of time but the church looks so much better now.  I may have torn a huge hole in my nice slacks too? oops.

I have learned so much these last couple of weeks.  I could go on for hours about the many things i have learned.  I have learned so much, yet I know soo little!   I have learned so much about the gospel, yet I
know so little about the gospel!   But I look at it as somewhat of a good thing because it gives me motivation.  Motivation to work harder and become better one day at a time.  "The life life with the greatest REWARD, is a life turned over to the LORD."   Sooo True!   Mish life is the best. I am loving it.

My love for the Book of Mormon has grown soo much.  I can't get enough of it. There is soo much to be learned within its pages.  I have never been much of a reader.  Actually lets be honest.   I HATE reading!   But its different when I  read the Book of Mormon.  When I read I try to relate it to me.  There are so many stories to relate to in the B of M!  I have been reading in Alma this week.  Reading from Alma is so leggit
for me at this time in my life because its all about missionary work!  Alma and Amulek are some powerfull teachers.  Gotta love um.

Life is the best.  You all are the best.  I recieved a ton of emails this week and I don't have the time to respond.  If anyone besides my famile wants to communicate, please write letters!  I am not allowed to
email back. Love yall!  Stay Awesome!

Love Elder Adamz

Elder Adams is in Belgium!

8-6-12

Family!

Belgium has been a real nice treat.  Here is my new address before I forget;   2D Rue Moria Bte 2 {first line} 6032 Mont-Sur-Marchienne {2nd} Belgium {last}.  The mail system is very fast and only takes a little over a week to get mail.  I can’t wait to here from every body.

I am currently typing on a French keyboard and it is sooo hard!  haha  So I am sorry in advance if this email is extra short.  The first day in France was so awesome.   Our mission home is beautiful.  As soon as we got off the plane (longest ten hours of my life) we went straight to work.  My very first contact was insane.  I just walked up to some random Parisian and asked him if he believed in God.  He babbled off something that made absolutely no sense, haha.  I didn’t know what to say after that so I just kinda started bearing my testimony.  He listened and as soon as I stopped he said "fermer le bouche" (shut your mouth) hahah.   Rough start for Elder A, but it has definitely gotten better since day one.  My companion and I have given away ten or so Book of Mormons so far.

My companion is Elder Philips.  He’s a nice guy.  He is from Utah. We don’t have much in common but doesn’t matter because the only thing there is to talk about for the next two years is the gospel! haha.  

The second day in the mission and I was already receiving miracles. I don’t know if you remember but I told you I met a Belgium man named Patrick in the MTC who spoke French soooooo fast.  I met him in the TRC (the place where we teach fake investigators)  and for some weird reason I thought I would see him again some day. About a month ago when Patrick came back from the US to Belgium (where he lives) the missionaries in his ward asked him if he remembered any of the new Frenchies from the MTC and he said  "the only one I can remember is Elder Adam!"   I am not sure why he remembered me because I could barely even talk to him in the MTC haha. He prayed that I would be sent here though!!   He said he has been praying for me since that day.  ( I was secretly praying to come to Belgium as well)  GOD really does answer prayers.  I know I am here in Belgium for a specific reason.  Patrick was so excited when he heard that I was coming into Belgium that he picked us up from the train station the day I arrived.   And on Saturday he went and taught a couple of lessons with us!   He is the nicest man I have ever met.  We also had lunch at his house on Saturday. The man has got some legit cooking skills.   He has been a member for 8 years now!   He is such a good member missionary.   I could've been sent to a million other places but I know the lord needs me here!

I am really starting to pick up on the French.  I really struggle at comprehending but I know with time that will come.  I have already had the opportunity to give two blessings in French!  (tres difficil pour moi)   One of the people we gave a blessing to was a inactive members husband who was very sick in the hospital.  The spirit was so strong.  Definitely a experience I will never forget.  The other person was a member of the church who was going into surgery the next day.  No time to mess around here!   Its crazy how fast I am learning!   On Sunday I also got the opportunity to talk in Sacrament Meeting.  I was able to tell the people how excited I am to be here in Belgium, a little about me, and of course bear my testimony.  I don’t speak the most eloquent French but everyone said they understood! haha.  I was surprisingly not that nervous because I knew that the Lord would help me with my Fench!   The ward I am serving in is very small, about 40 people or so I believe.

Belgium is amazing!   I am near the town Charleroi.  My little house is very nice. It’s kinda in the ghetto but that is alright.  Everybody and I mean everybody, SMOKES HERE!   I am sure that I will need to get good at teaching the Parol de Sagesse (Word of Wisdom) haha.   People probably think that I smoke because I smell like it most of the time.  Weather is amazinggggggg!   It rains everyday and it is always overcast and cloudy.   So many people here hate the missionaries but about one in every hundred people will listen to our message.  We have done soooo much contacting and have been successful!   Tomorrow we have three rendez vous set up! I am pretty excited about that.

Oh yeah and we ran into a drug deal yesterday!  Everybody ran when they saw us coming because they thought we were cops (white shirts and ties haha) but when they realized we were not,  they cane back in the street and handed us a bag of marijuana.  We gladly accepted.  NOT!!!   I about peed myself!  Haha the men looked like straight mobsters.  They were some legit drug dealers.  Haha they were all rollin in BMW’s and Mercedes.  I will try to avoid that street from now on haha.  And we almost got jumped my second day! Three drunk huge men chased us down and tried to tackle us haha, but thankfully there nice little daughter stopped them!  She was only twelve or so.  I will forever love her!   I also try to avoid that street haha.

Love you all.   I am all out of time.  I miss you all and can’t wait to hear from you!

#ChurchIsTrue

#StayAwesome

#KeepTheFaith

#YourInMyPrayers

#TheChocolateHereIsToDieFor

ps- send me my winter clothes please!

ps- pictures next week! I have some good ones.

Elder Adams Testimony

July 24, 2012

Cher familly et amis!

The last week of my MTC experience has come! (soooo quickly i must say).  These last couple of days Elder Adams has struggled tremendously with sleeping haha.   PARIS/FRANCE consumes my mind every night and won’t let me sleep.  I am kind of  freaking out about being surrounded by 60 million people that speak French, and that speak it well haha. My French has come a long way and will continue to do so for the next two years but that doesn’t mean i am not going to be nervous haha.   This may seem weird but I actually am kinda  sad to be leaving the MTC (just a lil though) because I have made so many good friends and I love all of my teachers.  The MTC has been a real treat.  Speaking of TREATS-Elder Adams has gained 15 pounds!   #Embarrassing!!!   I never thought it was possible, but PLEASE people will you stop sending me candy and junk food and just food in general  hahaha.  I will lose the weight shortly though, don’t worry.  The petite food portions in France and all the walking will help me lose a few pounds  (hopefully  more)  I’m sure.

Is it just the MTC or is it hot every minute of every day in the real world to?  The MTC's air conditioning has been horrible so this place has been like a sauna these last two weeks.  Sundays and T uesdays when i have to wear a suite are the worst.  My tie is used to wipe the sweat from my forehead and is soaked by the end of the day haha  (a lil exaggeration).  Maybe it is just cuz i am fat now but  i don’t think so.  I can’t even think without sweating!

Last week  Ii got to be a missionary host for the 1st time!   It was so fun being able to show new kids around the MTC and what not.   Both of the kids I  hosted were scared to death and I got the opportunity to let them know that they will be just fine but I do see where they are coming from, the first week of the mission is kinda rough.   Both of the Elders were headed to Fiji so they didn’t have much to complain about haha.   Tomorrow i will get to host again.   I can’t wait,  It is definitely a highlight in the MTC.

The French is slowly progressing!   This last week i have been trying my hardest to speak it whenever and wherever I go and so fa,r so good.   Last Thursday was my best day by a mile!   I spoke it basically all day and even during gym and meal times (so hard for me).  Nothing will make a person more tired than trying to translate English words to French words in your head haha.   I slept like a baby that night! French is so fun to speak.   I have finally memorized the entire First Vision in French and have gotten the opportunity to use it in 4 or 5 lessons thus far.  It was so hard but I am so glad I did it.  French is the best!

Well I am almost all out of time.  I am so excited to be going into the real mission field where I can teach real people and real lessons!   I have loved the MTC experience and will definitely never forget it.  There are not very many prisons in this world like the MTC.   This prison full of 2,381 missionaries (President told us yesterday) is the only place in the world that has the SPIRIT in such rich abundance!   I have never felt the spirit this much in my life.   I am scared out of my mind to be going to France so soon but I know with the Lord on my side that I will be just  fine!   I have learned so much these last 9 weeks but the things I have learned the most are how much my Heavenly Father really does love me and everyone who lives and ever lived,  a great love for the scriptures (especially the Livre de Mormon),  a love for my Savior and a knowledge of his infinite atonement, and so much about Joseph Smith and the restoration! The MTC has been a real treat.  I love you all. Thanks for your support and prayers.

 Avec L'amour... Elder Adams

 #ParisBBY!

#ChurchIsSoooTrue

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