Skype Was AWESOME!

Okay I just have to start off by telling all of you how fun it was to Skype and see your faces and to see Keri's Baby Audrey belly! I almost cried it was so awesome. I wish I could have talked for longer but I needed to get back and focus on the work here that the Lord has called me to do.  Thank you for all of your love and support.  I need it. After I talked with all of you on Christmas we got to watch a Disney movie for Christmas.  We watched "Brave".  It was so good! Such a cute movie. Have you been getting my emails? I looked on my blog and they are not on there.  If you need me to send them again I can.. I hope they are getting to you because I haven't had time to sit down and write a letter.  I haven't had time to do much of anything extra lately so I am sorry for that. Working two areas is starting to wear on us. There are so many people who need us to bring the gospel to them it is ridiculous. We never have opportunities to find investigators because we are working with so many people.  We have 5 investigators and about 15 less active members and recent converts to see each week.  So we are booked. Then add shifts at the sites on top of that and it gets pretty crazy.  Bishop Egan wants us to be in every members home too teaching them lessons and stuff.  Sometimes I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day so we can accomplish everything.  When we get two more sisters down here that will help because we've had double the load while Sister Earl and I are down here by ourselves. 

Yes we did get SNOW!! About 20-22 inches this week. We get a lot here between the lakes.  I had my first white Christmas! But that was just the beginning to the snow storms.  Now I know what they mean when they say, "walking in a winter wonderland." Don't worry Mom, I am getting snow boots right after I send this email.  Haha I have been walking through almost two feet of snow with my little wimpy AZ boots.  I've survived though, it really isn't that bad.  It is going to get down into the single digits here this week so I am going to get some thermals and stuff like that so I can layer up.  Sister Earl just laughs at me discovering things about living in the snow.  Elder Breinholt bought some tractor tubes for us to go play out in it today.  There are some good powdery hills out here at the girls camp. 

Oh by the way, we are living at the girls camp now.... yeah they built a new pavilion down at the Whitmer Farm and they hit our pipe line and now it's leaking and then the cold weather is freezing the water that leaks out.  So they are trying to fix it before it ruins the new pavilion.  So they shut off our water. We've been here with the Breinholts since Thursday. They are using the old well water right now at the Whitmer, but it is not safe to drink.  So the Breinholts told us to just stay here with them.  We think they just want us to stay :) hopefully the water problem will get fixed soon so we can go back home though.  Yesterday at church they had to use bottled water for the sacrament and everything.  OH and the water heater here at the girls camp broke too. So we've been taking cold cold cold showers.  Definitely wakes you up in the morning!

This week has been a hard one. One of our investigators committed suicide.  It was really hard on Sister Earl and I... but the Lord got us through.  We had 6 appointments after we found out on Friday and we couldn't just cancel them.  So we prayed and pulled it together and went to work.  It was the best thing we could have done.  We taught and shared our testimonies and felt the Spirit and it comforted us.   We got home to the girls camp at 9 pm and who was here?  President Christianson.  We just fell to pieces we felt so loved and looked after.  He had over an hour drive in the snow storms to get here and then get back home to Rochester.  He talked with us and gave us blessings and it helped so much.  We felt bad he had such a long drive and a late night, but he told us he knew he needed to be here. I am so grateful for a mission president who is willing to do anything to help his missionaries. 

Good news is that Lea has a baptismal date! She is for sure getting baptized on the 5th of January.  She text us on Friday right after we found out about the suicide and said she didn't think she could get baptized. Yeah, two big things at once I almost had a heart attack. But we met with her on Friday and Saturday with the Masinos and talked with her about it and continued teaching her.  She decided to get baptized on the 12th but we didn't want her to wait another week- she is ready.  So we asked her to pray about the 5th and she said she would.  I gave her a hug when she came to church yesterday and the first thing she said, "I've decided on the 5th, I prayed and got my answer and I know I am supposed to be baptized that day." I may have jumped up and down a few times. I am so excited for Lea. She is so prepared and is the definition of "the elect".  NOW, we have found out that Elder Masino in Chile is having his first baptism of his mission on the 5th! Isn't that so cool!  Heavenly Father just works things out.  I have seen His hand in this work more than ever. 

I know that God knows each and everyone of us personally. They way the world measures the worth of a soul is very different from the way Heavenly Father does.  The worth of EVERY soul is great in the sight of God.  I love the Lord and I love being one of His servants in the vineyard! I love you my family and hope you have a HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Love, Sister Alexandra Adams

Winter Adventures Have Begun

Merry Christmas Eve!  I just got off the phone with you, Mom, to set up the time to Skype.  I am so excited! Thank you for the pictures that you emailed me I love getting to see you guys. I sent a package last Monday with a little gift in there for you  and Erika and Dad.  I hope it got there okay and everything. This past week so many crazy things have happened. I'll start with the mellow stuff so you have to read through the email to get to the good stuff. Ha ha :)

Last Monday night we had a family home evening event at the Smith Farm.  We caroled from the log home, down Stafford road to the frame home. In the log home Elder and Sister Fuller was there reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" (no beer involved this time.. haha) and then Elder and Sister Poulson were in the frame home reading Luke 2.  It was such a neat thing.  (The Poulsons are from Ephraim and they have the old freezer that was in the old malt shop! I told them that my Nane Sue and Papa John ran that shop for a while- they thought that was pretty cool.) Then In the barn the elders were there playing old fashioned games that the Smith Family would have played. We caroled back to the welcome center and had cookies and hot cocoa.  It was so amazing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at a place where he appeared. The Spirit there that night was a sweet one.  AND I got to see Sister Butters and Lindsay and Bishop and Sister Wildey and Danae and all the people I love from the Lyons Ward. I was so happy especially to see Lindsay. She is doing so good. 

Tuesday nights is when Fayette Ward has there ward scripture study so instead of meeting at the church we came down to the Seneca Lake Girls camp.  Sister Breinholt made cookies and wasil and we caroled and had a Christmas scripture study here at the main house at the camp.  It was so awesome.  I am really starting to love the Fayette Ward. I love our little posse that comes to scripture study each week. Mary came and she shared her testimony. It was so beautiful and powerful. Lea, our new investigator came too! She loved it.

We had the Christmas Zone Conference with President and Sister Christianson on Wednesday.  It was a spirit filled day and my heart was truly touched. We had a training on how we can learn to be a missionary like Jesus Christ was. Being a missionary is rough at times, but it is so worth it.  I decided that whenever I feel discouraged or rejected that I am going to be grateful. Grateful that I get to feel a tiny fraction of an ounce that the Perfect Missionary experienced in His life, ministry, and atonement He performed- because it brings me closer to Him.

Thursday was also a special day. We got to go to the temple and do a session at the same time Logan Graham went through for his first time. I was so thankful that it worked out and that Logan wanted me to be there.  Sister Graham hugged me twice after the session- once for Logan and once for her haha. I love their family so much. Logan is going to be a rock star of a missionary. Brother Graham came and waited in the lobby with Laurissa and Jake.  So I got to see them when we got out.  Laurissa feel into my arms and started sobbing and then it made me tear up. She is such a special girl and it was very obvious that we miss each other.  It was nice to see the Grahams (my mission family) while I am away from my own family this time of year. 

So here is the funny part of the week.  Have you ever been stuck in a ditch full of snow? Well... Sister Earl and I have! Hahah oh my goodness it was insane.  So we had some pretty intense snow storms here and we really needed to get to the Seneca Lake Girls Camp to make cinnamon rolls with Sister Breinholt to take to our investigators, less active members, and recent converts for Christmas. So Sister Earl was driving very carefully and slowly down the back roads to get to the girls camp.  The snow drifts were crazy and at times there was complete white out. So we get down by the lake almost to the camp and at this point Sister Earl is getting a little more comfortable so we were going like 20 mph and all the sudden this huge branch is in the middle of the road.  So she slammed on her brakes, veered around the branch, off of the black top, and then when we started to slip she over corrected and we slid directly into the snow bank.  All the sudden Sister Earl was up in the air, I was near the snowy ground, all of the stuff in our van was on my side of the car, and our van was sideways! So many people stopped and checked on us and kept telling us we would need a tow truck to get out. So we called Elder and Sister Breinholt and before we know it they are coming down the road in their mid-sized SUV. Now, this is how cool the Breinholts are:  Immediately Elder Breinholt attaches a rope to our bike rack and his car and Sister Breinholt jumps in the ditch and has powder up to her waste and starts digging us out. Luckily another man stopped to help too so he and Sister Breinholt start pushing the front of our car and Elder Breinholt pushes the gas and pulls us out backwards onto the road! Elder and Sister Breinholt get the coolest senior couple award hands down. Sister Earl and I jumped out of the car and hugged them we were so grateful they got us out. (I maybe cried a little because I was scared) and Sister Breinholt goes, "oooh our little Arizona bunny".  There was no damage to the van, the cinnamon rolls got made and were delivered and everything was just fine! Heavenly Father was really looking out for us because it could have been a lot worse. 

Yesterday we taught Lea the Plan of Salvation after church and invited her to be baptized on January 5th and she was really hesitant because she didn't want to disappoint her family. We delivered some cinnamon rolls to Lea and her family last night and met her mom.  Her family is not really too fond of the fact she wants to be baptized. We talked with her and her mom in their living room for like 20 minutes!  It was awesome! We told her why we came on missions and what we do to help people come closer to Christ. The Spirit filled the room as we were explaining this to her and she relaxed and smiled and ended up giving us hugs when we left their house! Sister Earl and I got in the van to drive home and we started screaming it went so good.  Then we are headed down the road and Lea texts us and says, "Thank you so much for stopping by I think that really helped :) and I've decided that I'm ready to be baptized. I told my mom that I am going to be baptized before I go back to school." Well you should have heard the screams in the van after that. We were on cloud 9! So so happy!  We stopped at Brother and Sister Masino's house on the way home and told them all that had happened and they were ecstatic.  They are so excited to tell their son, Elder Masino who is serving in Chili, that his girlfriend will be baptized in a few weeks! He will find out tomorrow when he Skypes home :)  That is probably the highlight of my week. I love missionary work so much. I know that it is the work of God and He is working miracles. 

I love you all very much and I am so excited to see your faces tomorrow! Merry Merry Christmas :)

Love, Sister Adams 

Skype? Yes or No?

Family! I want to Skype with you guys for Christmas so let me know if that is a possibility. I can always just call too though so no big deal. I would just need to know the account to call when the time comes. I'll call or Skype around 11 or noon your time, but we'll see. Still one more p-day until Christmas. 

This week was wonderful! I am finally getting a hang of everything and everyone. Two areas to take care of has been quite the task, but Sister Earl and I are still alive, well, and working hard! It's great. We got Bill and Beverly going on their family history and they are LOVING it. Mary is having a hard go with things lately, but her testimony is solid.  She is such a great person and we are doing all we can to keep her knowledge of the gospel growing. 

Sister Earl and I are driving a new van! Haha total soccer mom style. But it will be nice when we finally get two more sisters to take over Waterloo. The doors open at the push of a button and everything. Super fly. 

We got to go to the temple this week with the Brienholts again! We did initiatory and it was so neat.  The little old ladies at the temple stayed late, even after the temple should have been closed, to finish all the names. Between Sister Brienholt, Sister Earl, and I we finished 30 names. It was amazing and a sweet experience to be a part of. I love being inside the temple. The peace and joy felt there is something that cannot be described.  I am thankful for the priesthood that connects us with heaven and the sacred ordinances that allow us to return to our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, as forever families. 

There is a man we are teaching in Waterloo. His name is Jim and he is older and lives by himself with his dog, Jay.  I love going and teaching him because he likes the fact that I am bold haha. The Yearsleys are the senior couple who live next door to us that take care of the Whitmer Farm and they came with us on a team-up.  The Spirit was so strong and Jim told us that he knows it is all true. He is just trying to find the courage to take action. He is SO CLOSE! Ah I can hardly wait for him to be baptized. It will happen. The Yearsleys were perfect to take with us because they just connect with Jim.  He and Elder Yearsley have the same sense of humor and really get along great. I really appreciate these senior couples that come out and help us to bring people to the truth. 

We have a new investigator! Lea is a 19 year old girl who is back home in Seneca Falls for Christmas from college.  Her boyfriend is the son of a really great couple in the ward, the Masinos. Elder Masino, her boyfriend, is in the MTC right now getting ready to go to Chili. She talked with him a little before he left about what he believes and why he was going on a mission.  She said it really touched her heart and she felt something special as he explained it to her. So he left on his mission and she started meeting with missionaries while she was away at college. Well, I guess the elders teaching her were not obedient at all and never had lessons planned for her and stood her up a few times. (Yeah... not okay)  So Elder Masino sent us Lea's information from the MTC with a sister who just arrived in our mission.  He said that the elders were just not cutting it and to have sisters teach her and she lives in our area! So we contacted her and hit it off right away. She is the sweetest girl ever and she really wants to be baptized. The only thing holding her back is her family is really upset about her wanting to join the Church. I feel so blessed to be able to teach Lea. She told us that Sister Earl and I were an answer to her prayers and that she really feels the Spirit with us, more than ever before. I am excited to get her going and progressing more quickly so she can be baptized. 

Two less-active members we are helping right now, Greg and Jinny, are brother and sister.  This week their sister died in a horrible car accident. Sister Earl and I went to the funeral today to support them. It has been a little hard talking with them about it, because it takes me back to when I lost my brother. It hurts my heart to see them going through the same thing. But I know that the Lord sent me here to this area, before this even happened because He knew I would be able to help Greg and Jinny with my experience and my testimony. Losing a sibling so suddenly is really hard... but because of the knowledge that I have, coping with it is possible.  Sister Earl and I are meeting with them often to keep them close to the gospel and to the church. We will get them through this because we have Christ on our side to help them along. 

I am so grateful for my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He is everything to me, because without Him I would have no chance, no hope in returning to where I belong with each and every member of my family. I love this time of year that we get to celebrate His birth and His life. I love you all and I'm excited to talk to you on Christmas day. 

Love, Sister Adams 

From the Seneca Lake Girls Camp

Hi Family! I am emailing you from the Seneca Lake Girls Camp today!  It is only 15 minutes away from the Whitmer Farm and the senior couple down here, Elder and Sister Brienholt, are so awesome.  It is so beautiful and peaceful here I wish you could see it. This place is so special. Many of the early saints where baptized right here in this lake.  Thank you for all the pictures! I got a lot from you and Keri. It was so fun to see my dance girls!!!! Oh my gosh I just wanted to cry looking at them in their cute costumes they are so beautiful! Please give them all a hug for me.  And Erika's winter formal dress and hair and make-up... big thumbs up. I loved that the dress was modest. I am proud of her for not going into the gray area of what modest is or not.  SFTAR!!! ahaha Mom, you will know what that is.  I also got emails from Grandma. It was good to hear from her. I am worried about Grandpa and his cancer, but I know the Lord is looking out for him. I pray for him each day... Grandma told me he still goes out and takes care of the horses and cows and  rides too. Haha typical Grandpa- nothing stops him.

This week was great. Our Christmas decor is officially up! I love it... makes it more like home. I am adjusting better to the new area and people. The first week I didn't sleep at all. I don't know why... but I got a huge sty on my eye. I looked like the hunchback of Notre Dame or the guy on the "Goonies" who goes... "Heyyyy youuuuu guyyyyyys!!!" I reenacted that for Sister Earl a few times and she laughed really hard. The sty is now gone and I don't look like an ogre so it is all good.  Sister Earl's birthday was this last Friday. We celebrated by having birthday breakfast down here with the Brienholts and we also made an apple crisp instead of a cake. It was delish. The apples in New York are better than anywhere else. We worked at the Smith Farm that day and I took a tour! That is a rare occasion now with the cold weather.  They were a couple from San Diego out here on business and wanted to see the Smith Farm before they headed back.  It was such a spiritual tour.  We just clicked.  We talked about the atonement and overcoming weaknesses through Jesus Christ.  Their business is doing interventions for people who are addicted to various substances. They both have experienced spiritual healing from the atonement of those issues and now they are helping others do the same.  They were great people and I was glad I got to share in that experience with them. It is so true. Anything we struggle with in this life has been paid for. We just have to make the choice to let go of the things that keep us far from God and start doing those things that bring us nearer to Him. I know that He loves us and wants to help us and through Him our weaknesses will become strengths. 

After our shift at the Smith Farm Sister Earl and I walked through the Sacred Grove for her birthday.  And guess who we ran into in the Grove? BOB! It was fun to get to walk with him and feel the spirit of that sacred ground. It was dark so we couldn't see much... and hardly any words were spoken. But to be able to go and walk and just feel was an experience I will never forget. We got to one of the highest points in the Grove and we could see the temple lit up through the trees... it was really special.  

We also had the ward Christmas party that night.  It was really fun! Afterwards we stayed and did dishes until the bitter end. Whoever had the idea to use real dishes for everyone... bad idea, but it was good. I don't mind doing dishes. I also met Jessica and Brandon and their family this week. They are so great. They live in Waterloo and have been meeting with missionaries for 6 years. The only thing holding them back is that they are not married.  They have four kids and come to church regularly.  Six years is enough. I am so determined to get them wet and make them official. 

 We had some disappointing times this week with people not showing up to appointments. But we got to see Bill and Beverly again! Bill said that before he joined the Church he called the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "The Mormon Talley-Wacker Choir" ahah. I thought that was pretty funny. He could never think of the word 'tabernacle'. We went to Mary's this week with her home teachers to make that transition. It was good and she really clicked with her home teachers. I love it when the ward and the missionaries work together in missionary work.  That is when miracles happen. The Fayette Ward is great. It is so cool I get to go to church where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized! I still can't get over it. 

So for Christmas... I really want to Skype you guys :) so let me know what you want to do. I still don't know what time probably in the afternoon/evening here. But I think we are three hours ahead of you here... so we will figure that out next week. I love you Mom, Dad, and Erika! Thank you for all of your prayers they are needed and I can feel them :) Make it a good week and I will too!

Love,

Sister Adams

This Week Was A Blur + PICTURES

Heyyyooo! So this past week has been absolutely crazy. I don't even know where to start. Well I guess I could tell you that the area next to Seneca Falls is called Waterloo and I thought President closed it, but it turns out that Sister Earl and I are flushing it. We are both new to the area and trying our best to get a handle on the people the sisters in the past were working with. So there is a lot of ground to cover and a lot of people to take care of right now, but being busy is great! I am glad I won't spend my winter tracting in the snow. Oh and my p-day is on Monday now... by the way. Sorry if I forgot to mention that.

This week I met Mary. We call her Miracle Mary because she just came up to the sisters in the Seneca Falls library and told them she needed to make an appointment with them so they could teach her and get baptized. She got baptized about a month ago and she is AWESOME. Her sense of humor is so awesome. I really click with her. We made soup a few days ago and took it to her house to eat lunch and teach her about temple work. We have a temple trip planned for this Thursday and she is really excited to go do baptisms and confirmations. Yesterday at church she pushed me to go up and bear my testimony so the ward could see who I am... literally she pushed me. Haha it was hilarious. The new elder in our ward, Elder Perkins, got pushed by another ward member too so we both went. Elder Perkins was like, "You know how on fast Sunday you feel that push to get up and bear your testimony? Well this week Sister Adams and I had a literal PUSH."

I go to church with the Fayette ward now and it is so cool! We have church where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized! Every week! I am so lucky to be here.

I met a few other recent converts this week. Their names are Bill and Beverly and they are a hilarious. They are both in their 80s and they are so darling. Bill is blind and basically deaf if it wasn't for his hearing aids. He always jokes that he is going to drive his "bride" home.. he says, "Okay give me the keys and I'll drive you home." Then he busts up laughing and Beverly says, "The only keys you are getting are the keys to my heart!" Haha cute cute cute.

Sister Earl and I put up a little Christmas tree the other day and today we are decorating it! It is fake... but it will do. Our house is so quiet. Having no roommates is so weird, and we are out in the middle of NO WHERE. It is quiet and peaceful though so I like it. It snowed and actually stuck! It was fun. But then we had a few warm days like in the 50s so the snow melted... But I will take as many warm days as possible before the long, cold winter. Well like I said this week has been a blur.. a very good blur though I guess. Still getting situated, but still lost in the work! I love you all very much and hope all is well with you.

Love, Sister Adams

PS- you asked about Christmas presents and it is weird to think about myself and what I want... I really can't think of anything. Probably just some oranges from AZ and some money to get my hair done so I don't look like white trash. That's about it! Love ya!

 

Sister Thomas and Sister Adams - Sister Thomas is going home.

 

 

Kathy Dunn & Sister Adams

 

A really cool old cemetery in Newark

Sister Adams and Sister Butter's last cheers with their cupcake sippy cups.

FHE at Danae's house. Celestial District in Lyon's Ward.

 

Sister Butters and Sister Adams being separated.

 

 

 

Transfers

YES family, you guessed it I got transferred. I now live at the Whitmer Farm! Kinda funny how I went on and on last week, tangent style, about how awesome the Whitmer Farm is and now I live there! Haha. So I will be serving in the Fayette ward and my proselyting area is Seneca Falls. My new companion is Sister Earl. She is from Ogden, Utah. Right now we technically have two proselyting areas because both sisters that were serving in the area next to ours and living in the Whitmer House before I got there just went home. So the area is semi-closed for now... but we are taking care of their investigators and stuff. So it is INTENSE! Oh and I need to clarify, I don't live IN the Whitmer Log home. I live across the parking lot from it. It is awesome! I am not quite moved in yet, but getting there! Sister Earl and I set up a Christmas Tree that was in our basement today during lunch. So we are getting festive!

So let me update you on the past week. I had my last shift at the Peter Whitmer Farm with Sister Butters and we worked with the Fullers. I think I have told you about them. Well Elder Fuller is a hoot. For our open house FHE party for Christmas at the Smith Farm, he has to be in the log home reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas". So he said he has been reading it a lot and that he could pretty much say it without the book because he has it down. So I said, "Let's see it!" So he starts quoting it and he was doing such a good job. Then all the sudden the story turns into this, "I arose to see and stubbed my toe, opened the shutters, and fell in the snow. And what to my surprise did my eyes appear? A truck load chuck full of Budweiser beer." HAHAHA! I about fell off my chair. Theses senior elders make me laugh so hard. I thought you all would appreciate that.

Thanksgiving was great! We went and visited less-active members and recent converts and some widows. Then we went to the Grahams for Thanksgiving dinner (of course). I just love their family. I seriously have become one of them. I even know where all of their dishes go in all their cabinets... that is how much I have been there. I was so glad she invited us there so I could be somewhere that I was comfortable. It was delicious!! She had all of her side of the family there too and they are Italians. So their house was LOUD. I was glad though, just like our family :) Oh! Logan Graham got his mission call! He is going to the Arizona Tucson mission!!! heck yeah! I am excited for him.

We got to see Bethany this week! She came back home from school is Syracuse and we went to Wendys and got frostys with her. It was so much fun. She told us she was having a hard time away from home and with her situation. So we shared some scriptures with her and she loved it. Before we left she said, "This is what I miss. I miss meeting with you sisters and feeling so peaceful when you teach me! I am going to call the sisters in Syracuse tonight and set up a time each week to meet with them." YESSSSSS!!!!! I am so glad she is going to do that. She knows it is all true. It would not surprise me if she was baptized by Christmas.

I went and did baptisms at the Temple with Sister Butters and Lindsay this week too! IT WAS UH-MAZING. Being able to teach her, see her be baptized, and then go with her to do baptisms in the temple made my life! It is so cool to see everything come full circle. Lindsay is such a force for good, and she is doing really well. Went to the temple with the Elders Erekson and Houskeeper and their recent convert too. Elder Erekson ended up doing some family names for someone and he is six feet six inches tall. Haha seeing him get baptized was pretty great. He has to like bend in half to be immersed. But the Spirit was so strong and it was such a sweet experience.

So usually we get transfer calls on Sunday night. But it never came. So we thought it would come Monday morning...but it never came. So at that point we knew that it was going to be a huge transfer. Transfer meeting is in Rochester on Tuesday before noon. So waiting and not knowing where you will be or what you will be doing the next day is pretty stressful. The call finally came Monday afternoon and that is when I got the news. I was sad to leave Sister Butters and Newark North... but I knew it was time. I only had a few hours to pack and that was hectic because I have accumulated many items. Sister Butters and I hucked it all in my suitcases and bought a plastic bin from WalMart. I am so grateful she helped me. It is weird leaving Newark and Sodus and the Lyons Ward because I have been there for over half a year... but Sister Butters will rock it. I am excited to work in Seneca Falls and learn and grow even more with Sister Earl! I love you all and miss you bunches. But I am happy and healthy and workin' hard and LOVING IT. XOXO

Love,
Sister Alexandra Adams

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SISTER ADAM'S NEW ADDRESS IS:
Sister Alexandra Adams
1451 Aunkst Road
Waterloo, NY 13165
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Thanksgiving...Whaaaat??? + PICTURES!!!

I cannot even believe that Thanksgiving is coming up. Before you know it, I will be half way through my mission and calling you guys! Whoa.... that is weird to think about. Thank you for all the fun pictures! It was so nice to see my family and extended family! Can I just say how good looking my family is...? God must have made you or something because you all are beautiful! I think my favorite picture is Erika showing the gun she got for her birthday and Dad sucking in his gut haha. Keri sent me a picture of her and Kenzlee at Kenz and Logan's sealing! That made me soooo happy :) They are both big with child :) hahaha scripture talk. That is the nerdy missionary coming out in me. Did Erika get my birthday card? I hope so!

This week was an interesting one that is for sure. We had to go through Kathy Dunn's storage units because when we cleaned out her room she thought we packed stuff away that she didn't want us too... so Sister Butters and I went back to the storage units with Elders Erekson and Houskeeper and searched through every box. It was ridiculous. We didn't find anything in the boxes we packed up for her that she wanted back, so we really don't know how long those items have been missing. We were glad we did it though so that we could have a clear conscience knowing we didn't take things she needed on accident.

Lyons Ward had a pie auction this week. Some ward members bought pies for us! It was so nice. The pie auction was to help raise money to help the young women get to girls camp next summer. They do it every year. There is a pot luck dinner and then a hilariously intense pie auction. It was so fun to spend time with the ward in a casual setting with everyone just having fun.

We went to the family history center in the Palmyra Stake Center this week with some of our recent converts. It was so fun to get them started on their genealogy and to see their faces light up when they find family member they can do work for in the temple. We will be going to the temple with them this Saturday to do them!

Sister Butters has been so so sick this past week. She pushed through until Sunday. She was so miserable so we snuck in the back of Stake Conference Sunday morning, Sister Butters got a blessing from Elder Fowler and Elder Stroud, and then we went home. She felt so bad for not doing missionary work but she could barely talk and had no energy at all. Luckily Sisters Graham and Hawkes, who live with us, were able to take our shift at the BOMPS. I made her some lunch and then studied while she slept for five hours and then I made some mashed potatoes and snap peas for dinner. She said it sounded good to her and you better believe I did my best to spoil her while she felt sicky. She is feeling much better today and I have not caught whatever she had. We called Sister Christianson and she said a nasty virus has been going around but I haven’t got it… I swear my immune system is a ninja.

This week we had a specialized training with President and Sister Christianson again. We have been lucking out with all these special meetings he plans! This meeting was at the Whitmer Farm down in Fayette. It was so special being able to have a meeting in the very place the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized over 182 years ago, on April 6, 1830- just a week and a half after the Book of Mormon was published. April 6^th is a special day. It is the day Jesus Christ was born, the day the U.S. Constitution went into effect, and the day the Church was organized for the last and final time, never to be taken again on the earth. So cool. So many special things happened on the Whitmer Farm and you can feel it when you go there. It is in the middle of NO WHERE so you know what it means in D&C 1:30 to bring the Church “out of obscurity”. This is one of my favorite scriptures… it’s in the Doctrine and Covenants: Section 128:20-22—“And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfillment of the prophets—the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and Johnin the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehannah river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and the sidpensation of the fullness of times! And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope! Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing.” THIS IS IN MY MISSION! I have stood in the chamber of old Father Whitmer. It is a real place where the Book of Mormon was finished being translated. The voice of God was spoken there.

I love you all so much. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers.

XOXO, Sister Adams

PS- our meeting at the Whitmer Farm was about the Christmas campaign the Church is doing this year. Everyone go to mormon.org/Christmas. It is such a cool website. Free Christmas music, e-cards, bible videos to download, etc. Tell people about it! It is an easy way to open your mouth to tell people about the Church and help members and friends of other faiths refocus on what Christmas is really about. “Christmas is Jesus Christ”.

Sister Adams with Elder and Sister Jacobson



 



Talking to Elder and Sister Jacobson

 

Cool barn

Julia Thomas who we go visit- She is almost 99 years old now

SUPER MISSIONARIES!!!

Pumpkin success

Self explanatory - me just being me.

Our cute house!

fall time! in front of the Sacred Grove

An email from your favorite missionary

Hello Family!

I just looked at my blog and the last two bunches of pictures I sent you guys are not on there. I hope you got them! If not, I can try sending them again. Mom, you mentioned that you can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving...YEAH, your telling me! Time is flying by so quick. Sister Butters and I only have two more weeks in this transfer together. We are kind of sad about it. We are contemplating bribing President Christianson with the caramel apples we made this week to keep us together one more transfer. No... we wouldn't do that. We just joke about it. We want to be together for Christmas because we know the ward really well and we get along really well. But we will see. The past few days have been warmer than usual. No need for tights, a coat, and a scarf! But we walked outside this morning and it was back cold again. Oh my gosh Mom! We have been so spoiled this last week. We got roast and potato dinner twice. WHAAAA? Yeah! It was soooo good. We were spoiled by Elder and Sister Stroud, site missionaries at the historic sites that are serving in Lyons Ward with us, and by Brother and Sister Porschet, a really cool couple in our ward.

We have had some disappointing days this week, not going to lie. But they always end on a good note. For instance, we had a ward correlation meeting planned for Saturday and our ward mission leader cancelled last minute. We were so upset because we haven't had a meeting since I first got here in May. I am not going to go into detail about how this man does not do his calling, but let's just say that we have been tackling the work in this ward on our own this whole time. Well Elder Houskeeper and Elder Erekson call us and tell us that we are having our meeting at "Brother Wahl's". We all just died laughing. Tom Wahl's is a popular hamburger shop here and there is one right around the corner from our house. So Sister Hawkes, Graham, Butters, and I got in the car and we had district dinner together at Tom Wahl's. It was good and we had a lot of good laughs. We seriously have a celestial district in Lyons Ward right now. We all work hard and work well together. We also laugh really hard and have fun.

I bet you are all wondering about Jimmy. Well to be honest, he has been really discouraged lately. Sister Butters and I basically begged him to read the Book of Mormon. I bore my testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon to him and I have never had my heart so on fire in my life. I told him that I wouldn't be out here on a mission if I didn't know it was true. I told him about Erika and how I left her all by herself with no other siblings around her to come and share this book with people and if it wasn't true and it didn't change my life, I wouldn't even be here. It seemed to touch him and he promised he would pick it back up and continue reading. He was reading for a while but then he just stopped. We know that the Book of Mormon can lift his spirits and help him find the truth and the answers to all of his questions. He has some hard mountains to climb and we have given him the tools to do that. Now he just needs to act. I hope and pray he has been reading it since we saw him last.

On Sunday Sister Butters and I had a shift at the Smith Farm. It was actually busy! I was so surprised! We got a lot of locals because it was a warm, beautiful day. It was so nice to take so many tours and get to feel the Spirit that just resides at that sacred site.

We had zone conference this week as well and it was all about not getting discouraged. Sometimes our mission here is really hard. We get baptisms, but we work dang hard for them. In Alma 26:22 it says "given" four times. I really needed to read this because sometimes we work hard and we don't see the fruits of our labors. But success is given by God, and on His time. So never give up, continue to work in faith and plead to Heavenly Father for help and He will grant unto us success when it is the right time. It kind of reminds me of President Eyring's talk in General Conference. He talked about how God is not distant or hidden from us. We distance ourselves when we choose to not reach out, trust Him, and accept His timing. We can't see around the corner, but He can. God knows what is best for us because He knows us and loves us perfectly. I know that this is true. "But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day." Alma 26:7.

Sister Butters and I got up to Sodus a few times this last week and we stopped in to see Julia and the nursing home. She is almost 99 years old. She is so cute- we got there and she had on a cute pink shirt and cardigan and then she had hot pinks nail polish on. We were talking to her and her roommate, Marie, and Marie was telling us about how her eyesight is getting really bad. I asked Julia if she needed glasses, because I have never seen her wear any. She goes, "I am 99 years old! What do you expect!" Haha it was so funny. She wears glasses.

Jina completely dropped us this week. She told us that she hasn't been honest with us from the get go. I know that was a lie. I know she knows she felt the Spirit and the positive change in her life from the Gospel. She told us she loves us and feels different around us and that we make her feel happy, but that she doesn't want to learn anymore because she just can't accept Joseph Smith being the prophet of the Restoration. I just looked at her straight in the eye and told her, "The reason we are different, happy, and make you happy is because what we teach is TRUE- everything- and that includes Joseph Smith as the prophet who restored these truths." So for now Jina is in God's hands. He will continue to work on her. She is just afraid of the truth. Our two newer investigators Brooke and Dee are doing great. We are actually going to go teach both of them later today and we are excited about that.

Well I found a really good scripture this week that is in John chapter 8. In verse 29, it is Jesus Christ talking, but this is how I feel as a missionary: "And He that sent me is with me; the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him." Now, I am not perfect. But I want my family and my Father in Heaven to know right now that I know God has sent me here. I am not alone. And I want to be good and to do good continually to please my Father in Heaven. I know this is the work of Almighty God. He is my captain, and I am on the front lines of His army. And this work is going forth "boldly, nobly, and independent, until it has penetrated every continent, visited every climb, swept every country, and sounded in every ear." -The Standard of Truth.

I love you all. Keep pressing forward with faith.
-Sister Alexandra Adams

Halloweek!

First of all, I had an awesome Halloween! The Relief Society president fed us that night and then we got to go to temple with all of the site missionaries. It was great to get to do a session with all the sisters and senior couples. So special. Elder and Sister Heyn, a newer senior couple we have here, called me this morning and told me that Tatum Day is coming to our mission in February! I am so excited! She is my softball buddy! I guess I should say Sister Day. You should somehow get a hold of her and tell her I know she is coming and I am SO EXCITED. Oh and because you mailed stuff to my house due to online shopping, we are now getting some pretty apostate magazines in the mail box sometimes... is there anything you can do to stop that? Sorry if my card in the mail was too blunt. I just really want to focus and word my hardest throughout my mission even when it is Pageant and it is almost over. If I have my whole family here at Pageant I am worried I will check out mentally and I can't afford to do that. I have work to do and people here that need me.

The storm was pretty crazy but not nearly as crazy as anticipated. So that was good. We lost power during the night but we just bundled up and did just fine. Have I mentioned that it is cold here? I have already busted out the puffy coat. Oh and it has already been snowing. Not enough to cover the ground, but flakes falling from the sky. We were tracting in the cold a few times this week and it starts to snow and I think my fingers, toes, and nose are going to fall off. Then snowflakes start to fall from the sky and I realize I need to layer more. I am not used to this layering thing. This winter is definitely going to be an adventure. I saw a snow shovel for the first time this week too. I asked Sister Butters if that's what it was and she just laughed at me. What! I have never seen one before that I can remember. I'll be using one this winter! Crazyyyy.

So while we were hostage in our house due to the storm we did our best to still do the work. So we went through and started calling people that used to be taught by the missionaries but stopped for one reason or another. We called this former investigator named Dee. She was way nice but said we called her at a bad time. So later on in the week we stopped by her house but she wasn't home. We talked to her husband on the porch for a minute and then said we would call text time we came to see if Dee was home. Well TODAY we are walking through Wegmans (the grocery store by our house) and we get a phone call. It was Dee! She called and told us she has been waiting for us to call her because her husband said we came by and that we would. She wants to start studying the Book of Mormon again and she wants us to teach her! Miracle? YES. That NEVER happens. Especially here in Newark. Sister Butters and I are going to go teach her tonight after Lyons ward scripture study. YAY!

Jina half dropped us this week. I felt like I was being dumped. It was hard. She basically told us that she loves us and the Book of Mormon but she doesn't want to believe in the Restoration through Joseph Smith and she will never change her mind. She also said that she would like to be baptized... well we explained to her that the Book of Mormon was translated by Joseph Smith through the gift and power of God and that the priesthood authority that she wants to be baptized with was restored by Joseph Smith too. It didn't help. I think she is afraid of the truth. She also said she doesn't want to put a "label" on it. In other words, she doesn't want people to call her a Mormon. She has a lot of negative pressure from her family so that makes me sad but I know she can do it. She has been putting me on an emotional roller coaster. Sister Butters and I are going to try and get her to the historic sites and especially the Sacred Grove to help her gain a testimony of the Restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Things with Jimmy have been difficult this week. He is getting frustrated with himself and has some hard hurdles to get over. Teaching him is so great, but it is a challenge. I just feel so privileged that the Lord trusts me to be the missionary to help him come to a knowledge of the truth. I know that he will. His path won't be an easy one, but we will get there. He has that desire and when we have desire and faith the Lord will get us there.

We have a new investigator! That is good news! Her name is Brooke and she is way cute and nice and has a little 7 month old baby. We have taught her just once but she is eager and excited to learn.

The Lord has been blessing us in this area and in this ward. I know it is because Sister Butters and I have been serving with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. I am learning and growing everyday. When I am having a hard day instead of cry, I just laugh and search for the good. "Come what may and love it." Sometimes the Lord has to bring us low to lift us even higher. I know that is true. I may have shared this scripture with you before but who cares it's a good one. "Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work. Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise of God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." Alma 26: 15-16.

I get frustrated with email sometimes because I wish my words could really describe to you all the things I am experiencing. I cannot say the smallest part which I feel. I love you so much. XOXO
-Sister Alexandra Adams

Getting Shushed In The Library

Mom I am getting shushed in the library because your emails made me laugh so hard. I got in trouble... oops! Not my fault my family is hilarious and I have a loud laugh. Oh well they will get over it.

Well hey! I bet you are wondering why I am emailing early this week. The reason is because of the weather. We have hurricane Sandy coming from the east, high winds coming from the west, and an arctic blast coming from the north. And guess where they are all going to overlap...Yep, here in Western New York. Rochester area is on high alert right now. So President and Sister Christianson told us to stay home and inside, and the Searles (the site directors) told us we are grounded from the sites. So crazy! So we thought we would hurry and come email this morning so that you all don't worry about us. So really, don't worry about us. We will be just fine and are more than prepared for this storm.

This past week has been great! As always... I feel like I never say anything else. But it really is always great! Heavenly Father has been answering my prayers. So things with Jina were really rough for a while... but Sister Butters and I prayed everyday
that somehow she would feel the Spirit and continue to read and pray and do what's right. Well we FINALLY got back in to see her. We were so nervous, but then she proceeds to tell Sister Butters and I that she has been remembering her dreams and that never happens to her. She has been dreaming of her baptism day and how happy she will feel when she is baptized. Is that a miracle or what! So we recommitted her to be baptized and she is really excited. :)

And Jimmy is doing great too! He came to church yesterday! We also had a lesson with him at the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center this week and President and Sister Christianson came with us for a team-up lesson. Could you get a better team-up? NO. It was such a spiritual experience. Seriously, Jimmy knows he is on the right path. Right now, he is trying to not focus on the thoughts rolling around his head but to focus on the seed that he has planted in his heart. I know that it is going to swell, and sprout, and begin to grow; because the seed is good. (Alma 32:28) He is doing awesome and has found the truth. He has such a genuine desire to know these things. I know God will answer Jimmy's prayers for this great knowledge that will change, benefit, and improve his life, and the life of his two kids.

This week we also had a specialized training with President Christianson. Okay so for the past few weeks, when I get the chance, I have been studying the House of Israel. I felt like I was just barely skimming the surface of it and that I really wanted President to teach it to us. So I kept studying and prayed for help that I might understand more fully. Well, President gets up to do the training and announces that we will be learning about the House of Israel! I about jumped out of my seat and shouted for joy! That was an answer to my prayers! President took two and a half hours to teach us about the House of Israel and the significance of it and how Israel is being gathered NOW- through the Book of Mormon. I have never had so much knowledge crammed into my head so powerfully, clearly, and quickly. If anything that lesson just helped me realize who I am. Through all generations of time, people have turned from God because they have forgotten who they are. They are children of God and the covenant people of the Lord. They throw that out the window for things of the world that don't matter! That is why the tribes of Israel were scattered. Now if we go to the title page of the Book of Mormon, this is what Moroni wrote and attached to the very back of the gold plates under the sealed portion. It says,
"Wherefore, it is an abridgement of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites-- Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to the Jew and Gentile."So who is it for? EVERYONE.
"Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophesy and revelation--Written and sealed up...and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile." Here we are in a Gentile nation, America, and they came forth by way of Joseph Smith.
"Which is to show unto the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, they they are not cast off forever-- And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS IS THE CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations."
Isn't that powerful!? I think about how many times I have skipped over the title page and look at the power in it! The Book of Mormon is here to be spread throughout the earth to help people remember who they are. That they are of the House of Israel and to gather them in! I know that I am of the House of Israel, the tribe of Ephraim. No wonder I felt a sudden random prompting to leave everything behind and come share the Book of Mormon with the world! Before I came to earth, I had the gift of spirituality, to recognize truth and to believe. That is why Heavenly Father sent me to this Gentile nation, as a member of the tribe of Ephraim, in this dispensation. I have believing blood coursing through my veins. It is a literal blood line... it is in my DNA. And because of this, I have this desire in me to share it and to get my brothers and sister back to where they need to be, where they belong. And the Book of Mormon is the instrument God has given us to do this. It drives me crazy when people accuse us of adding to the Bible or replacing it. No, we are proving that the Bible is true and gathering Israel. Just like it has been prophesied since the beginning. This work is real. It is God's work. He loves us, and I testify of His divine reality.

I love you all so much.
Love, Sister Adams

(here are some great scriptures in the BOM about it's significance in the gathering of Israel: 1 Nephi 15:12-18, 2 Nephi 29:13-14, 3 Nephi 29:chapter heading and verses 1-3, 3 Nephi 30:chapter heading and verses 1-2. There are tons more but I think you will like these.)

PS- Erika, I was talking to Kathy last night and she was asking me about you and I told her how at first you had a hard time with me leaving you to serve a mission. Kathy wanted me to tell you, "Thank you for letting your sister go so that she could come here to help me." Love you sissy :)

Happy Happy Happy

Hey Mama! Thank you for the package :) I got it yesterday and I am wearing a cute cardigan that I love so much! Guess what Sister Butters and I did this morning?...... P90X! We are going to be fit! When we finished and were making breakfast we were feelin' it that's for sure. I am so glad you sent that to me. And I got to vote! Thank you for sending me my ballot! That is the first time I have voted for the president of the United States. Cool. Oh you told me that I would need to order a down coat instead of the one I bought. Well the coat I bought is down... it is huge like Nana's puffy coat but thicker and longer. And it has fur around the hood. I am going to look like a black marshmallow Eskimo but I don't care. Better than turning into an ice cube. Thank you for the gloves! They are going to work great. I had a feeling to hold back on buying gloves- little did I know you already had some for me. Mother daughter vibes? yes :) Keri and Craig are having a baby girl! I am so excited I can't even handle it. She sent me an ultrasound of little baby Audrey Ford and it was so cute! Little profile!

This past week has been a good one. We have a new elder in our district who just arrived from the MTC. His name is Elder Houskeeper. And guess who he got to meet on his first day in the field? Kathy. She is the hoarder I've been telling you about and let me tell ya, she is a hoot. Elders Erekson and Houskeeper came with Sister Butters and I to help her get rid of more of her things. Then that way the elders could take it and put it right in their truck and into a storage unit so she wouldn't look through the boxes and decide to keep anything. She is hilarious though. She likes me to sing scriptures to her. So she will look through my scriptures and pick one that I have marked, then pick a hymn for a tune and make me sing the scripture to that tune. Sometimes she catches me tap dancing and I don't even realize I am doing it. You know how I always have busy feet... it makes her laugh. Then I clap my hands and say "vaudeville!" and she laughs ever harder. (Thank you Uncle Timmy) We have fun seeing Kathy but since her room is all cleaned out now, YES we finished it thank goodness, we don't need to go over there as much.

Things with Jimmy are good now. At first he would not let Sister Butters and I teach him! It was so frustrating. He wouldn't even give us a chance to talk and answer his questions. He would just go from verse to verse in the Bible of places that the doctrine doesn't match up. Seriously, it was like Bible chase with Jimmy time. Plus he picks apart the sentence structure and the words and makes them into something that is not true and does not matter. At first I was kind of intimidated that he knew the Bible so well, but then I realized that the simple doctrine from the missionary lessons answer all those deep doctrine questions you can't find the answer to in the Bible. And if Jimmy was not going to listen to us then there was really nothing we could do for him. As a missionary, my purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored gospel through, faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Not to go on Bible chases. Sister Butters and I were really upset about how our first two lessons with him turned out, but then we decided to just sit and explain our purpose to him. Finally he agreed to listening to us and letting us teach him these things he doesn't know because of the "plain and precious things" that were lost out of the Bible. (1Nephi 20-29) And what do you know... he understood and everything made sense to him! We still have a lot of questions to answer for him but that will come as we teach him more. I was so relieved that it worked out.

We have been having many church historians, BYU professors, and general authorities (seventies) coming into the historic sites lately. It is crazy because they are all just wearing normal clothes more often than not and we have no idea who they are. Then at the end of the tour we find out and are all shocked. They walk out the door and leave and all of our mouths drop haha. But it is fun! I would rather know after than before so I can just do my thing with the Spirit and not get nervous.

Here's a miracle for you: Sister Butters and I were tracting one evening and it was really cloudy and looked like rain. We were pretty far from our car and I thought, "we are for sure going to have to run back to our car to get umbrellas." We didn't have dinner until 7 pm so we had a few hours to tract. And not one drop of rain fell until 6:55 pm. Thanks Heavenly Father!

I tried to send Mace a letter, Dad and Jean gave me his address but it got sent back to me-so I don't know how to get it to him... any suggestions? I love my family! Especially you mom and dad. Thank you for raising me the way you did. I wouldn't be so happy if it wasn't for you raising me in the gospel. I really am so happy! All the time it is ridiculous! I know this joy comes from the living the gospel and sharing it. It is wonderful.

Love you bunches,
Sister Alexandra Adams

Sister Butters and I are still Together

It is a start of a new transfer and Sister Butters and I get to stay together! We are so excited. So last p-day after I emailed you guys Sister Butters and I went and walked the Hill Cumorah with Bob.  It is getting cold so we only have so much time to play outside! He brought us both an empire apple, his favorite kind, so we can try them. They are only grown here in New York and they are delish! Probably my favorite right now. Apple season is so fun and healthy! 

Sister Butters and I had a miracle this week. We were planning our day and we were in Palmyra for half the day and we thought we'd come back to Newark to do studies before our meetings at night but for some reason we felt we should stay in Palmyra to do our studies. So we did. Well we were upstairs in the Book of Mormon Publication Site and President Christianson came in to talk to another sister that was working the shift there. Her grandma had passed away the night before and she was devastated. She was not up to taking tours and she still had a few hours to work. And on top of that, a huge bus tour from Utah was coming. (We are getting lots of bus tours because of the changing leaves) Luckily Sister Butters and I followed the prompting to stay in Palmyra because we were there and ready to take over and help out with this huge group of people. To us it was just a small thing but to this other sister she really needed us there! Always follow that still small voice even if it does not make sense.  God knows everything and sees everything. We do not. So if we just following those small promptings of the Spirit we can really make a difference in the lives of others. President Christianson came up to Sister Butters and I and asked us how we were doing. Sister Butters goes, "Awesome!" and then I said,  "No bad! You should keep us together because we still need to figure out our issues."  President just busted up laughing. I'm glad he thinks I'm funny and not a weirdo.  

We received new site couples this week and they are wonderful. Of course that means we had to say goodbye to the ones that we love. The Malans had such a hard time leaving. I know I will have the same. We all get so attached to the Spirit that is at these sacred sites. When the Malans were about to pull out of their driveway to head back west we pulled up and saw them about to leave. So all four of us, Sisters Hawkes, Graham, Butters, and I, ran up to them and gave them hugs- even Elder Malan haha. They were both in tears but we just put a smile on and let them know we loved them. So hard! But I am excited for them to be back with their family. 

Things with Jina have gone kind of down hill. I don't really want to talk about it 'cause I will get frustrated and sad. But we are not giving up on her. We have a new investigator named James. He is way cool. He trains racing horses. He knows the Bible forwards and backwards. He recognizes the parts that are missing in the Bible how some things don't match up. He's been reading the Book of Mormon for three days now and loves the clarity it brings to the doctrines. This guy is a single dad right now and lives with his parents because his wife went crazy... but he has a heart of gold and is so genuine. Sister Butters and I are glad we get to teach him and bring the full truth into his life. 

I love getting to share the Book of Mormon with people.  It is the most correct book on the face of this earth.  A well known scripture at the end is in Moroni 10:4-5.  As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we know this scripture to be "Moroni's Promise".  But to me it is not just Moroni's Promise... Moroni was a prophet of God- he spoke the words of God. So to me it is "God's Promise". He loves us. He sent us to the earth and He wants us back. While we are here He wants us to know the truth so that we can return to Him and live with Him forever as families. "And when we shall recieve these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart with real intent, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of ALL things." I know that anyone who does this can know the truth for themselves, straight from their Father in Heaven. I know these things because I have done it. 

I love you all so much. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Love, Sister Adams

Hiiiiiiiii

This week has been AWESOME. Mostly because of General Conference. I love our prophet so much... Everytime I hear him or his presidency or a member of the Quorum of the Twelve I just realize how much God loves us that He gave us these wonderful men to lead us. Can you believe the new age requirement for missionaries!? 18 for guys and 19 for girls? You should have seen Sister Butters and I. Our mouths dropped at the same time, we looked at each other at the same time, and back at the screen at the same time. I think our missionary forces are going to multiply and be strengthened for sure. Sister Butters and I are guessing that they will open China soon. They are going to need TONS of missionaries to do that. But we are just speculating. 

Before General Conference started on Sunday I was feeling really frustrated inside with myself.  We had to go to the Smith Farm shift early because we carpooled with the Newark South sisters. I just had this prompting to "go to the Grove".  So we did. Sister Butters and I went and walked through the Sacred Grove for an hour before our shift began.  I felt so much peace and all my bad feelings went away. I love the Sacred Grove and that I get to serve here so that I can walk through the Grove to find peace and feel the power of the events that took place there. We finally made it back to the Welcome Center and Conference was playing on the Nielsens lap top on the counter. We all sat there and listened and it was SO NEAT to get to hear the voice of living prophets and apostles at the literal place where the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ began with a modern day prophet, Joseph Smith. Then during the intermediate hymn, Sister Nielsen says, "There is taco soup and cinnamon rolls down in the break room."  I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The Nielsens are such a sweet senior couple. They fed us delicious food and provided a way for us to hear General Conference. 

I didn't get to watch all of Conference but Sister Butters and I are taking time out of our p-day to do that. I missed Elder Eyring, Elder Holland, and President Monson. And I NEED to see those ones. I was out on tours during those. But I had awesome tours! I took mostly friends of other faiths through because all the members of the Church were at the Palmyra Stake Center watching Conference. I had such a wonderful time with this Catholic couple that is from Florida.  They were so sweet and they really appreciated my testimony.  They gave me their information and want me to teach them over the phone and email because they don't feel ready for missionaries yet. But they will get there! They both cried on my tour as a testified so I know they felt the special Spirit of the Smith farm and family. Later that evening, Jina called Sister Butters and I and let us know that she watched Conference and liked it a lot, but that she loved the Mormon Tabernacle (tabur-nickel...haha) Choir. Such great news! We know that Heavenly Father is so happy that she chose to do that, and we are too. 

Well family, I just want to let you know of my love. I love you all so much. Thank you for all of your love, support, and prayers that you send my way. You all put such a big smile on my face. I love all the pictures too :) I am glad Duke is still alive and he is healing from his surgery. I was so worried about him. I love that dog. Erika looked strong in the pictures you sent me of her cross country race. I am glad she is having a good season. XOXOXO.
-Sister Adams

The Leaves are Changing!! + PICTURES!!

Mom! the leaves change here and it is GORGEOUS! Seriously! I have never seen so much color. Some of the trees out here are literally a bright coral color- it is amazing. I am experiencing seasons! So cool. Thank you for yours and Dad's letters this week. It is nice to get real mail that you can hold and read whenever I want. Will you please give Uncle Chuck a hug for me... Dad told me he is going to church and reads Aunt Kate the lessons since she can't go because of her surgery. So hug him for me and tell him I love him and I want to go to the temple with him asap when I get home from my mission. I am glad everything at the Dance Barn is going great. I pray for you all. And of course B is doing awesome. It's B! I am not surprised. Keri sends me pictures of her baby bump too and it is so cute! I am going to be an Auntie Alex when I get home! SO FUN.

Well last P-day after I emailed you Sister Butters and I took the Newark South sisters, Sisters Graham and Hawkes, up to Lake Ontario to hike Chimney Bluffs. It was so much fun! There is this huge bluff that overlooks the lake. We hike a mile and a half down it and back and it is a beautiful view. I love going to Lake Ontario because it is so peaceful. It looks and sounds like the ocean and you know me... I love the ocean. I am lucky it is in my proselyting area.

Jina is doing awesome! She came to church again and she is keeping all her commitments. I know God is so happy with her for turning back to Him. Her baptismal date is the 28th of this month- Sister Butters and I want to try and move her date up because she is progressing so quickly. She shouldn't have to wait to be baptized and to see and feel the blessings that come when she is ready sooner than the 28th.

We had a few hours this week that we spent tracting. We knocked a lot of doors with nice people but they were "all set". That is the official term for western NY. Everyone says, "No we're all set!" UGHHH... Sometimes I just want to say back, "No you're not." No one is ever "all set", EVERYONE can come closer to Christ, and especially when they don't have the Restored Gospel in their life. Oh well, we aren't here to push, just invite.

We had interviews with President Christianson this past week too! It was great. I love interviews with President. It is so crazy how he knows exactly what to ask us, exactly what we need to hear, and exactly what we worry about or what we feel as missionaries. He works so closely with the Spirit. I hope one day I can be that inspired- still working for that and I know that will be a life-long endeavor but hey, if I can make a difference for people that exactly through the Spirit that would be pretty sweet.

We went back this week to visit Kathy, the sweet lady in Demay Living Center who hoards. She was eating her lunch so we just sat with her as she ate and read some scriptures with her. While we were with Kathy, my friend Richard rolled up in his wheelchair! I took Richard and his daughter and granddaughter (all friends of another faith) on tour at the Book of Mormon Publication Site before the Pageant. His daughter lives in New York City and brought him to get him out of the living center for a while. As I was taking them on tour she told me that Richard lived in Demay and I told her, "I live down the street from Demay!" I told his daughter I would go visit him once in a while and she just started to cry she was so grateful. But I was so happy to do it! Richard can barely talk and while on our tour he would open his mouth but nothing would come out. I could tell he was getting frustrated with himself. As they left, I told Richard I would come see him at Demay Living Center and as his daughter rolled him away he finally got out the words, "One hundred A". 100A is his room in Demay. Well, when Sister Butters arrived we tried to go see Richard when we were there to visit Kathy and Joan (Did I tell you Joan got out of Demay?! She is SO MUCH BETTER. Comes to church every week with her "war paint" on and lives back at home now.) But Richard lives in an area that keeps them locked up tighter because they are flight risk. So we couldn't go in and see him. So the fact that it is almost three months later and he rolls up to me in his wheelchair and recognizes me is a complete miracle! I was so happy to see him! Heavenly Father is so cool. So we talked with Richard and Kathy and shared some scriptures with them. Then Richard went over and turned on some big band music and blasted it and started bouncing around in his wheelchair. So funny! I wanted to dance SO BAD. I swear I was born in the wrong era. Why do I love retro things!? Anyway, I heard "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and I wanted to tap dance.

I was able to go to the Relief Society Broadcast on Saturday night too! It was so good. The new Relief Society General Presidency are so inspired. I was so happy I went to that. All the speakers said something that I really needed to hear. I can't believe I never went to that when I was at home. I never want to miss a RS Broadcast ever. President Eyring's talk was awesome. I am excited to hear from our prophet and the apostles this weekend. Sister Butters and I went to the temple today to prepare for it. We will get to go to the Saturday sessions but not Sunday's- we will be working at the Smith Farm. But that is okay! What missionary gets to work at the Smith Farm?! Oh yeah.. I do! Am I not the luckiest sister missionary on the planet!? I am so privileged to be here. I can't believe it was just this time last year I got the prompting to come on a mission. Why I fought that prompting for so long I do not know. But Heavenly Father got me here and now I am happier than ever and working hard to bring His children back to Him.

I love you bunches!
Sister Alexandra Adams

PS - here are some pictures Sister Adams sent us.

Hope you enjoy! all these taken near Lake Ontario my favorite place!