The Game Plan

Wow, wow, and wow! I love the news I receive from home.

 

Good news everyone! We found a basketball court within running distance of our apartment. Morning exercise will be awesome this transfer! The only difficulty remains in following the guideline of having no score or competition. We will make it work.

 

We helped a group of Buddhist nuns change their tire the other day. I suppose I am generous with myself when I say "we". I would be more accurate if I informed you that Elder Simper changed the tire while I watched with fascination. The nuns dressed in long blue robes and blue, bowl shaped hats that led to a point at the top. They talked quietly and expressed their gratitude but were not interested in converting-- not sure why. We must have been an awesome sight for passers-by!

 

We received notice from the zone leaders. Elder Simper will leave the area on Wednesday. It looks like Elder Schwemmer and I will be training a new Elder. Exciting times! I recently read The "Call of Missionaries (Box B)" by Elder Packer. I know that I am in the right place at the right time.

 

Dad-- thank you for being "The Man". I truly hope I honor you in my service.

 

I love you all!

Michael's letter 8/5

He carried the bulging bag with his arm outreached far from his body. It contained various objects that we discarded previously. As he made his way to the "litter-barrel" (as Texas community parks affectionately call them) he thought it pertinent to swing the cumbersome bag through the air. The plastic handle stretched mid flight and ended up ripping entirely sending the garbage bag hurtling through the air. Unfortunately, its final destination lay about a yard short of the intended target.

 

Life in Mission Bend West is awesome. I am very grateful for this opportunity to serve. I have been thinking recently how the Savior lived the Law of Moses and the higher law throughout his life. I think my thoughts are spurned primarily from some of  the strange rules missionaries follow. I wonder what types of weird rules He had to follow while living on this Earth.

Elder Swchemmer is a tall lanky individual. He was big into basketball before the mission. He can dunk with ease. He toured some colleges who wanted him to play for them before he went on the mission. He can get some substantial scholarships when he gets back. 

Elder Simper came out a little latter on his mission. He was a head painter at an auto body shop. He also did some brick work before he left. He co-owns a mason/brick laying company. How cool is that? I consider myself extremely fortunate to rub shoulders with great men daily. 

The news from home makes me happy.

Special shout out to Rachel Adams who sent the most-awesome photo book. Good job, I love you.

And I love you all!

Josh Guthrie

Elder Simper confirmed Josh Guthrie a member of the church and Elder Schwemmer conferred the Aaronic Priesthood on him the same day. We committed him to fill out a pedigree chart. We discussed the opportunity for him to do baptisms for the dead at the Temple. Did you know that converts that do baptisms for the dead have an 80 percent chance of continued activity in the church? We also asked him to go teaching with us on Wednesday. He is an awesome person to work with.

 

Missionary work is interesting. We ran into Josh accidently.

 

Interviews for our zone will occur tomorrow. The interview process is a little funny to me because their are so many missionaries. Our district has interviews from 11:04 to 11:28 or something like that. The interviews go by rapidly.

 

I hope our mission starts using Facebook soon. I would love to friend investigators and keep tabs on all of them. We would know where and when people moved and all sorts of things. I read today that the quorum of the Twelve and first Presidency have official Facebook pages now. And the Mormon messages the church is continuing to put out are very inspirational. Hopefully we will be able to share these.

 

It sounds like all is well at home! All is well in Texas! Love you, bye!

Good News

I see in my mind's eye mom at the computer contented after a long week in the woods. Rachel more than likely stands near by singing a girl's camp song-- the one about how great root bear is or something. Dad sits pondering Huge Nibly's translation of some ancient egyption text which fits perfectly with some passage of scripture he read several days ago.

 

As I look at the scene I smile silently to myself. Here stands my family. A unique combination of Adams and Lore character. And I get to be a part of it. In homes like this the kingdom of God continues. I'm beginning to see that God manifests Himself in the small things more than the "split-the-sea" things.

 

Anywho, life is awesome in the Mission Bend area. I love you! And thanks for the photos of Jason!

 

Can I get Michael Penovich's email address? How is he doing? Tell him he is the man for me if you can. Preferably with a fist-pump associated with the comment. Is the wedding date for Debbie and Matt set in stone?

 

Once again I leave you with the words of Reptevia-- "May the Lord protect and defend you"

Fullness of Times

We are experiencing awesome blessings in Texas. We have experienced many miracles. We found a boy named Josh who was ready to receive the gospel. We invited him to be baptized and he immediately responded in the affirmative. Every commitment we gave him answered in the affirmative. Angels are preparing the children of God to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. The Lord leads His elect. His face is like a flint when he makes a decision. Whatever He says goes.

 

The Blond Elder in the photo is actually the younger. He is Elder Schwemmer and the other is Elder Simper. Both come from large families. Elder Simper has 6 siblings and Elder Schwemmer has 5.

 

I love you all very much!

Side note from the editor- This is the photo Michael refered to

A lady from his mission sent this email: From The Texas Clan

Hello,

Attached is a photo taken a little while ago in our home in Sugar Land, Texas.  Your missionary Elder Adams and his companions had dinner with us.
These photos are important to moms with missionaries and I wanted to share with you and let you see how he's doing.  He is very hardworking missionary.  He has a strong testimony and is doing a great job.  It's a pleasure to have him in our home and serving in our Ward.

Thank you for sending him here.

Rosemarie Maw

 P.S. Let me know if you don't get the photo.  I don't always get the photo attached properly.

Mission Bend West

Mom I love you so much!

 

I bet dad is having the time of his life seeing all of those historical sites! I am very happy for our Nate and Kelsi's child. What is his name? He will continue to be in my prayers.

 

At transfers we found out that I'm in a tripanionship! Elder Schwemmer just got out of the MTC and is doing great. He is extremly humble and is willing to do anything. He came straight out of highschool at 18. Elder Simper is 22 and has been out for one transfer. We are in the Mission Bend West area and life is really satisfying. We are in a car area now and it is awesome. My last area we biked a lot. We are figuring out to work out the logistics of a tripanionship-- especially when we are expected to be within sight and sound (including in the apartment)! Also President Ashton asked me to be district leader.

 

You asked if we have enough investigators. We actually have a good number in this area. You also asked if I have been eating and sleeping right. I'm glad you asked because this is something I need to work on. I would take 15 minute naps in my last area during lunch and be ready for the day until we found out that is against mission rules (which makes sense). I need to focus on good sleep and eating habbits with all the crazy changes going on.

 

I love you very much!

Happiness

For some reason I struggle to find an appropriate title for my messaging so I will revert back to my comfort zone using cliché words.

 

We received a telephone call from the senior zone leader this morning. He informed Elder Marchant and I that we would be separated. I am leaving the Angleton area. He further explained that I will train next transfer! I'm not sure what is going down but we know it is inspired with President Ashton. There are so many changes in our mission-- different areas and leadership positions-- even the way we spread the gospel is changing. I wouldn't be surprised to see this mission split with the influx of missionaries coming in. It looks like there are more Sisters coming in than Elders!

 

Answers to questions: I do drive a car and bike around. Every car in our mission has a bike rack. There are three cities in our area so we drive to a city and bike there.

The picture of Elder Marchant and I was not taken by another Elder. Elder Marchant perched his camera skillfully on the topmost part of the bike, that of the seat.

 

I love the promise made to missionaries in D&C 68:6. "Be of good cheer...for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you." I will do anything to be on His team.

 

I am grateful to have goodly parents. I look back on my childhood experience and see how mom and dad (sometimes subtly and sometimes not) tried to create an environment for the Spirit to witness to my spirit the truths of God. Thank you for all you did and do. I will honor you and will pass it along.

 

Love you. Take care now.