Week Eight: Yo Yo wazzzup! (haha so not missionary language)

Hey mama! :) I love you so much it is insane. Haha I just read your email and I am laughing out loud. Literally, I am loling. and you know I hate the term lol. And you know how it is when I laugh. It is not quiet. The people here in Newark library probably think I am a crazy woman but I don't care and maybe I am a little! I get it from you! :P

 

Since Thursday I have been SO busy! What's new? haha! Anyways, on Saturday after I worked at the Smith Farm in the morning I got to go do service! It was fun! We went to a member's home, Sheryl Deniston, to help her plant her garden. Well we didn't quite get to the planting part... but at church she said she got it all in and it is beautiful! We went and pulled weeds, and picked rock, and spread out top soil, and then we helped her put up a fence around it so her dogs would go in there to dig. I loved being around her dogs. It made me miss Duke and Dazy. And Brigette too of course. The only thing is that my allergies were going crazy! You should send me some Alavert or somethin'. 

 

Haha oh my gosh this is a good story for the week. Well, we have this cute little autistic boy in our ward and the bishop got up to announce the intermediate hymn after the first speaker. So the bishop goes, "We will now sing, Be Still My Soul." and sits down. This little kid goes, "ONE, TWO, THREE, HIT IT!!!!!" haha then the organ kicks in with Be Still My Soul.  Haha I couldn't even sing I was just trying not to laugh. It was so funny. After church Sister Barrus and I had a shift at the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center. We had 303 vistors in four hours!! It was nuts. We had three bus fulls of youth come up from D.C. and it was crazy! Not to mention the flood of members that came after church got out. It was fun though. I got a lot of chances to teach and bear testimony so it was a good day. That night we went into Rochester for a fireside with Alex Boye! He is one of the black guys from Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  He told us that he and the two other guys joke that they are licorices in a sea of marshmellows! hahaha he was HILARIOUS. But he also has a crazy amazing voice and testimony. He shared with us his conversion story and sang four songs for us. It was such an amazing experience. Some people clapped and stood up after he sang and said "hallelujah!" I felt like I was in the deep South for a minute. But it was good! That means we had a lot of investigators and non-members there!

 

How was Dad's birthday!? Big 5-0 huh?! Haha he isn't just over the hill now.... he is over the mountain! I hope he had a great birthday. Did he get my card. It's a good one :)

 

Yesterday we worked at the BOMPS (Book of Mormon Publication Site). It was a good day with an even flow of small groups. I took a couple through that were mission president and wife in Cameroon! We talked about Christiaan and the places he has served/ and is serving in now! It was fun to hear their experiences and how they are similar to his. I ended up talking with them for an hour after their tour was over! Then they asked me for your phone number mom! I am glad they called you. It was so sweet of them to offer. Did they get a hold of you or just leave a message? President and Sister Norby were their names and they were nice, down to earth people. I was so happy to take them on a tour, and the Spirit was so strong the whole time. I love the Spirit! It helps me so much out here. Seriously, it leads me and guides me and prompts me what to say. Without it, I could not do this work and I could not give good tours. Sometimes I think we forget that the Gift of the Holy Ghost really is a gift! We need to always rely on that gift we have because that is how God speaks to us to know what to do.

 

This week I was reading in 1 Nephi 14. It talks about how there is the Church of the Lamb and the church of the devil. It is black and white, no gray areas. But sometimes I think we have gray inside of us. That we make mistakes and have our priorities in the wrong place and that makes us gray. We need to get rid of the black so that our white can be pure. We all need to repent everyday. As we do this, our white can be more pure, and the chains of the devil around our ankles can be loosed and we won't be pulled backwards anymore. When we aren't pulled backwards by Satan, we can follow the Savior more closely and be right on His heels.  As we follow more closely behind Him, He will move the "stumbling blocks" out of the way and make the road easier to travel. In verse 14 it talks about the power descending upon us as saints of the Church of the Lamb and that we are "armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory".  We can't be lagging behind the Savior if we want to be armed with righteousness. We have to be right on His heels and a part of His army. Who's on the Lord's side who? That is something that I have been learning and applying in my life. Read that chapter it is a good one. Maybe do it for family home evening with Nana :)

 

I love you so so so so much! I pray for you daily.

XOXOX,

Sister Adams

Week Seven: Long Bloody Week

First of all, I am exhausted! Our p-day got pushed back and I'm pretty sure my brain doesn't work correctly if I don't have a p-day within 7 days. All exhaustion aside, this week has been AMAZING! Okay so there are some site sisters in my mission that have been so so sick lately. So usually we work half day at the sites but since they are sick, Sister Barrus and I have been covering for them. So a few times we have been working a site and giving tours all day from 9 to 7. Intense! But it helps me to teach a lot because I know how to do it better! I worked at the Peter Whitmer Farm three times this past week! It is way fun! Great place to teach people about the organization of the Church and the priesthood. I also experienced the movie "Saturday's Warrior" for the first time. Have you seen that show? It is from the 80s (mom I'm sure you would love it) but it is RIDICulous. I pretty much got a sweet ab work out from laughing the whole way through it. I mimic the dance moves in that show and entertain Sister Barrus and she loves it. KICK! LAY OUT! DOUBLE TURN! REACH! 

I went to the temple today!!! First time in the Palmyra temple was wonderful. Some sisters that used to be here in the NYRM have been home for about 9 months but they came back. Not just to visit the mission but because they taught this wonderful lady named Sandy. Sandy was ready to be baptized but then she passed away. It has been a year- so since Sister Barrus taught Sandy for a little bit we got to go with them to the temple to do her work!  Baptism, initiatory, and endowment! Isn't that wonderful! I'm sure she was on the other side jumping up and down she was so excited. It was an amazing temple experience. One of those sisters, Sister Wilkinson (AKA-Wilk),  that came back actually trained me in the MTC! It was so fun to see her again. Long story short, I spent all morning in the temple and loved it. 

Sunday we had a dinner appointment up in Sodus so we went to Sodus Point for our study program. We got to study outside, in the grass, right next to beautiful, blue, HUGE lake Ontario.  It was so nice to be outside in such a beautiful place! I got a little color on my arms but Sister Barrus on the other hand, got fried. Her poor fair skin was red. She was miserable for a few days. She is now a lovely shade of pink! I don't understand why I barely got anything and she got burned to a crisp. Arizona skin I guess I dunno. After our studies we went and visited Sister Thomas in the nursing home there in Sodus before we went to dinner. She is such a sweet lady! We caught her in the middle of her dinner though so we only stayed for about 15 minutes then headed off to the Grahams for dinner. They fed us STEAK! and it was DELISH! I was a happy girl :)

Yesterday was zone conference. We got to start it in the Sacred Grove. I am so lucky to be here. President Christianson taught us and told us that "this is a singular experience. No other mission gets to start their zone conference in the Sacred Grove." He is so right. I can't even believe I am here experiencing all of this. It is like heaven. We got some personal time in the Grove and so I prayed and studied and got some really specific answers to my prayers in the Book of Mormon. Heavenly Father is so cool. He always answers me and there is no doubt in my mind He is talking to me, Sister Adams, personally. Being taught by President is so great. I learned so much yesterday and was really taught the things I needed to hear. I love my missionary life! 

Well that is all I can think of for now. I am sorry my brain is not functioning at 100%. I will send a better email on my next p-day, Tuesday! Thank you for your email and picture of Nana, Mom. I LOVED it. Thank you for your testimony and your uplifting words. I love you so much. I am working so hard out here. Sister Barrus and I zonk out the moment our heads hit the pillow. The Lord keeps us awake and strong all day long and we don't realize how tired we get until we're in bed. It is a miracle how we are able to do this work! I know that the Holy Ghost is there with us as our third companion every step of the way. If he wasn't, we wouldn't be able to do it. Everyday I come home with sore feet and a head ache but I love it! I am so happy and life is GOOD!!!

Love,

Sister Adams

Week Six: Hey Y'all!!

Hi family! 

It was so so nice to hear all your voices on Mothers Day! I felt like I was talking A LOT, but you just kept asking questions so I guess that's a good thing! Sorry I had to hang up so fast but I was already at the Hill Cumorah and we had tons of families coming in wanting us to teach them and take them on tours so I had to go so Sister Barrus didn't have to take all of them. But I love you all and you all sound wonderful! I hope Nana didn't cry too much :) Give her a love for me. Thank you so so much for the package full of cooking supplies and whatnot. I am low on moo-la this month because I had to get laundry soap and stuff and then I splurged on my favorite shampoo and body wash -and I may have bought some honeycrisp apples and a pineapple. Why is healthy food so expensive!? So that food will help me out a lot this month. So this is random, but the other day I was trying to explain to Sister Barrus what willards water is.. and I couldn't. What is it?!?! I don't even know. So if one of you at the Adams residence who use it know, you should write me and tell me. Merci :) OH MY GOSH! So Christiaan can't send me mail from where he is at right now so he did something so cool! He had one of the elders that just got back to the U.S.A. send me the mail he couldn't send to me. I got four letters and between those he wrote a little bit each day since I have been out on the mission! Isn't that so nice! His letters are so fun to read and he gave me some great missionary advice. I have the best, best friend! 

Okay so here are some things that I did this week! Well I gave TONS of tours... but I am used to that now and I LOVE IT! On Mothers Day after I got off the phone with you guys, I took the Reynolds family through the Hill Cumorah Visitors' Center. The mother was Hispanic and she heard I was from Mesa and she just went off in Spanish to me. Haha I could understand a lot of what she said, which surprised me and then when I didn't respond, she said, "Habla espanol?" (or something like that I forget) and all I could say was, "uhhh... pequito" I know that is probable spelled really wrong but whatevs you get the point. She laughed and was like "if you live in Arizona you need to know Spanish sister!" So I took the family around and played everything in Spanish for them. First time I did that! I'm surprised I figured it out without help. It was the Spirit directing me I'm sure of it. Then when I finished teaching the family, because it was mothers day, I had all her little kids come up by me and tell their mom what they loved about her. It was really a sweet moment. One thing I realized this week is that silence is good. Sometimes when I am taking tours with Sister Barrus or alone I fill like I need to talk a lot to fill the awkward silences. But silence doesn't have to be awkward! And the silences are when the Spirit talks and teaches people the most! I think when I get home, that is one thing I am going to change. I need to slow down, turn off the music, the TV, whatever, and just listen. The Spirit can't lead and guide us if we aren't listening. I also learned that we aren't going to keep learning if we don't ask. We have our agency so personal revelation can't be forced on us. If we want to learn something we have to ask! And then the Spirit will teach us. Such a simple concept. I don't know why I didn't get that before; but it has made all the difference.

OH! I think I told you in our phone call, but I got my Sacred Grove tour with the grove-keeper, Bob, on Saturday!  It was so amazing! Instead of morning study we went and spent the morning in the Grove and let Bob teach us. It was 3 hours. I learned so much it was insane! I appreciate the Grove so much more. And even though Bob is not a member (yet), he has such a strong testimony of the first vision and of the Gospel that was restored starting with that. My testimony grew hearing his, and especially hearing it where it happened. The Grove is so beautiful right now! It is getting so GREEN! I love getting to my shift early sometimes and doing my site study there. 

This week I got to meet Joan Townsend. She lives in the Demay Living Center in our area. She is the sassiest but sweetest lady. She is getting older and her health isn't too good so she lives there and can't make it to church. We went to visit her and she wanted to hear all about the missionary work we have been up to. So we chatted with her a little. She showed us a mama duck and about 15 ducklings that live out her window! They were so cute! So we watched the ducks for a minute and then had to be off. We sang her a song and prayed with her and then left. The next morning she called us and said, "I need a Book of Mormon to give to my friend!" So we went and took her one on our way to the sites. Haha she is such a great member missionary. Go Joan! 

I love it here so much! My mission is so fun and the people here are so cool. Last site meeting we played jeopardy with all the sisters and the senior couples that work the sites. Haha it was so much fun! Senior couples are the best. And my family is the best.  :) I love you all with all my heart. You are in my thoughts and prayers. 
XOXO,
Sister Adams

Week Five: First Full Week In NEWARK, NY!!

HEY FAMILY! Today is my official p-day. We don’t get a lot of time to teach our investigators because I have been called to be a cast trainer for the Hill Cumorah pageant coming up. That along with working the sites and morning program keeps me busy busy busy!  So today we taught a lesson to one of our friends, Charlene. We brought along the ward missionaries, Elder and Sister Fowler, to help us and when we don’t have time, they will go teach her. That way she can learn and progress more quickly- she is so ready for the Gospel it is not even funny! The Lord has prepared her and her heart is open and ready to receive it! The Fowlers are AWESOME. They are such powerhouses and have a lot in common with Charlene so I am glad we brought them in.  Thank goodness for the awesome members here that step in when we site sisters get so busy. I am so honored to be a cast trainer! I get to work with the cast members and teach them how to be missionaries here at the pageant! It’s like we have our own little MTC, and I get to be a teacher! How great is that?!!?

Oh before I forget here is my address for my house that I will be living in for the next 11 weeks:

529 W Miller Street #1

Newark, NY 14513

So funny story… well it wasn’t funny at the time, but it is now. My straightener got stolen at the MTC. (that was totally messed up!) And I was so upset about it. But I realized that Satan used whoever took it to get to me and make me angry. So I decided to brush it off and not let Satan make me lose the Spirit. Now that I am in New York I don’t think I will ever need to use a straighener… it is so humid and wet here. My hair is so CURLY! Even if I did straighten it, I’m pretty sure it would be curly by the end of the day. So no worries about that one!

This first week was so amazing. I got to work at the Book of Mormon Publication Site (we call it the BOMPS) twice, the Smith Farm twice, and the Hill Cumorah once. I am already giving tours on my own! Sister Barrus taught me well! But working the sites can be really intense! Not only do we have to know the information about the sites and the history of it, all dates and facts… but we have to also know Preach My Gospel and incorporate principles of PMG while touring people around the sites! It is so hard sometimes! My brain is so overloaded with information, but luckily the Spirit has helped me learn everything and remember it! It is intense trying to get to know our guests and discern their needs, meet their needs, and help build their faith in Jesus Christ, through telling them about that site and the gospel! It is so much to do in such a short period of time. I just do the best I possibly can and the Lord fills in the gaps. It is really extraordinary.  By the end of each day I just crash! I could be sleeping on a rock and it wouldn’t matter because I am so tired. But I love it! And I am so happy! The other morning Sister Barrus and I went to our shift at the Smith Farm early so that we could go for a walk in the Sacred Grove. I was feeling kind of stressed, nervous, and tired; but through prayer and feeling the Spirit that resides there at the Grove totally fixed it. KNOWING that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared there to Joseph Smith brings so much peace.  Once you set foot on the grounds there is no doubt in your mind that it happened right here. You can FEEL it so strongly and it is such a wonderful, happy feeling. President says that we are the #1 mission in the world and that is because all the other missions testify and teach of what happened here in our mission. It is the cradle of the Restoration! It is such a special place, and I am honored to be here to serve.

I didn’t get a chance to read your email, and I am so sorry about that! I just don’t have time. But I am going to print it out and reply to you in a letter today. As for calling for Mothers Day… I  am not sure what my schedule is- but I am allowed to call you Saturday night to set up a time to call you on Sunday.  So Saturday have your phones right by you so we can set up a time for Mothers Day! I love you all so so so much! Thank you for all our love and prayers. Family, you guys are the BOMB. Keep smiling and sharing your testimonies! LOVE LOVE LOVE 

Sister Adams

Week Four: Hello From NEW YORK!!

HELLO FROM NEWWW YOOORRRRRRKKKK!!! Okay so technically today is not my p-day but since my p-day was on transfer day and we only got about 3 hours of it we get to take a little time today to email. So here I am sending you some email lovin'. 

President and Sister Christianson picked us up from the airport. They are pretty much the coolest EVER. They took us to the mission home and fed us some divine food. So much better than the MTC. We went to the basement to go over some things and I knew Pesident and I were going to be friends when he showed a clip of Lord of the Rings and incorporated it into his lesson. I wish you all could meet him; he is legit. He is so funny and jokes all the time. He says that he doesn't take himself seriously, but he takes the Lord's work seriously. That is exactly how I am! I am so blessed to be here so he can be my mission president. I know that was not by coinsidence. Sister Jones and I got one last sleep over and the next morning we were off to the sites with President. We drove through Palmyra so we could see the Grandin Press (where the Book of Mormon was first printed) and the four corners of the different Christian churches. Then we went to Alvin Smith's grave and had a little lesson there. After that we went to the Smith Farm and went through the Log Home. President and Sister Christianson took us in the room the guests aren't allowed to go in, the one where Alvin died. They told the story of his death and how he was the biggest example to Joseph and that even though his life was short, he played a big role in the Restoration being Joseph's hero. Then they took us upstairs where the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph and told us about it. Then we had a testimony meeting with all the other new missionaries that were with us. The spirit in the Log Home was POWERFUL. After that we went into the Sacred Grove and President gave us a great tour of it. Then he gave us time to be alone to check in with the Lord and pray. That was such a sacred experience for me. I KNOW that in that grove was where the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ came to Joseph Smith. There is no doubt in my mind. It is so amazing to be here and feel the spirit of this sacred place. We hurried and stopped by the Hill Cumorah and just drove to the top because we were out of time. We had to get to transfer meeting to meet our new companions!   

 My trainer's name is Sister Barrus. She is so sweet. She is from Seattle and she has this cute little high pitched voice so when she tries to get the senior couples attention, they can't hear her. Haha it is so funny. So I get their attention with my low booming voice so she can tell them what she needs too. After transfer meeting we went with Sister Crook and Sister Jones to Panera Bread. YUMMMMMMMYYY!!! I was in heaven! After that I went to their favorite local store here Wegmans to get some groceries. That was a weird experience. I have never shopped for just myself... but I did good and got healthy stuff so be proud! We went to our house in our area. I am serving in the village of Newark! It is right next to Palmyra and about 10 minutes from the sites! We live in the gingerbread house! It is so cute! All the houses here are old and cute. Some need fixing up but they are all cool and vintage. I love vintage things. Ours looks like a little blue dollhouse. I love it. We have three other sisters living with us and they are loads of fun! Sister Larsen, from California, Sister Correa, from Hawaii, and Sister Soultanian, from Jordan-the country Jordan. Her accent is AWESOME. And she can say pretty much whatever she wants because she is so funny and has an accent. It's great. 

Every morning Sister Barrus and I go for a walk so that I can get used to the neighborhood and this little village of Newark! It is fun. The other day we met the crazy umbrella lady. I guess a week ago President came to the gingerbread house to pick a sister up to take her to the airport because her 18 months was up! It was hailing and pouring outside and this crazy lady walks up and down our street. She is a little bit mentally ill. So President saw her and went up to her to offer his umbrella and she screamed at him and told him she didn't want it! So he told her that he would really like for her to have it. She said, "Do you want it back?" and he said "NOPE!" so she took it and now President needs to find a new umbrella. Haha so on our walk I met her! She was sitting on her porch and she yelled at us so we talked to her from the sidewalk. It was fun; people in New York are strange and they talk a lot, I swear they don't even stop to breathe- but it always makes for funny memories and interesting experiences! I LOVE IT HERE! 

Well lastly I will share with you a spiritual thought that came up in ward scripture study with all the new converts and investigators (which by the way I had to help teach it with Sister Barrus the FIRST day I got here... SCARY!! but it turned out great!)  We were reading in Jacob four and talking about having faith so that we can see God's hand work miracles in our lives. And there is a verse (I forget which one) that talks about moving mountains and we started discussing it. Then Elder White, our district leader, said, "Sometimes we ask God to help us move mountains in our lives, but he gives us a shovel." I loved that. It is so true. We can just have things given to us all the time. We have to work for them. God will give us the tools to do something and show us the way, but WE have to do it. WE have to act. I thought that was a great thought. So if you are sitting around waiting for good things to happen, make them happen yourself! God will prepare a way and help you but you have to work. 

Thank you for sending me my stuff mom! I hope it doesn't cost too much but rain boots will be very helpful. Don't worry about getting short ones, I think long would work better to keep me more dry! I am not obese so I think long ones will fit over my calves... I love you all and I am so happy to hear from you. Thank you for your support and love. The other day we sang God Speed the right and I had to play the piano... it reminded me of Lance. He loved that song. God Speed :)

Love, 
Sister Adams

Week 3: Last Email From The MTC

Hey! Okay so your questions as to my flight plans. I leave Monday morning (April 30th) at 7:05.  So I will probably be calling you around 6:00 Utah time. I can't remember if you are ahead or behind us but you know so whatevs. So yeah! We will fly out of Salt Lake at 7 am and then land in Detroit around 12:45 pm and then we get to Rochester at 3:15 pm. I am so freaking excited! (picture the way the girl says it on SNL. I just blanked on her name but you know what I mean... the one who goes "oohhhhh myyyy goooosssshhhhh" haha) I am so ready to get out of the MTC.

The other day we had the chance to teach real people via chat on mormon.org. It was so intense! We are so used to practicing here with fake investigators, but this was real life! We answered lots of peoples' questions and then Sister Jones and I ended up teaching a guy named John from Virginia! He is now our investigator and we get to teach him more over the phone on Saturday while he waits for the missionaries in his area to get to him. We are so happy about it. Teaching real people is so much fun! It was crazy because I thought teaching someone over the Internet would be kind of weird. But it is crazy because the Spirit is totally there and the people can recognize it. Modern technology is amazing and I think it is wonderful how it is bringing people to know the truth so quickly. So yeah we are sick of teaching fake investigators now that we have a real one, but it is good practice and we need as much as we can get before we leave Monday.

This week we got to start our Visitors' Center Training! It has been great but it is HARD! It is just different because you only get 5-10 minutes to get to know the person, so you know their needs, so you can teach them what they need to hear and feel.  We have to rely on the Spirit like CRAZY. If we don't, how will we even touch their heart with the thing that God needs to tell them through the Holy Ghost? So yeah, Sister Jones and I have been exercising our faith like mad and so far the Spirit has told us what to say and we end up being successful! The MTC is cool because even though we are just practicing, the Spirit is there so strong and we really do help the people we teach even if they are a member volunteering to be an "investigator".  We also got the chance to go to Temple Square! It was so weird breaking out of the gates of the MTC. But it was fun to interact with the Temple Square sisters and watch them in action. We then talked to the guy that is over all the Visitors' Centers in the world! I forget his name... but he told us some great advice and how things will work more when we get to our site. He said we usually will do half days. Half in the VC and half out proselyting.  We get the best of both worlds! I feel so lucky to have been called to one of the 22 VC in the world. As I have learned to be a better VC sister missionary I can come to realize that it really is the right call for me. I love just getting to know people! And with the VC I get to meet so many people every day and bring them closer to Jesus Christ! It is AMAZING! He also told us to be ourselves. Not to change to be a "perfect sister missionary". Because who we are is going to touch certain people we meet. I was worried about being kind of loud and energetic. But some of the people that come to the VC are really going to connect with that! So Sister Jones was right mom, I should not change who I am to fit a certain prolife. I can still be who I am, loud laugher and all, and teach with power to help people come to know our Savior.

I have been playing some hardcore four-square at gym while I have been here.  The elders have made up a term called the "Sister Adams" it's my move, and it gets people out everytime. Haha the elders here are hilarious. We said goodbye to the elders in our district this week. All four of us sisters cried because we are going to miss them.  We have been like a little family, growing and learning from each other. Elder Makanoa, Astle, and Thorne went to Atlanta, and Elder Loosli and Hein went to Columbus. We miss them but they are out on God's errand now and so will we in a few days!

I got to sing in the MTC Choir again. I love doing that. We sang the song, "Behold, the Wounds in Jesus Hands". I am going to give you the lyrics at the end of this email because they are so powerful and they touched my heart and grew my testimony of the Savior and I know it can do the same for ya'll back home. You should YouTube it or something so you can hear the music but the lyrics alone are touching.  Guess who came to teach us this week?! ELDER RUSSELL M. NELSON! We have been so blessed to have a General Authority come see us every week we have been here. It felt good to be in the choir and help bring the Spirit to that special meeting with Elder Nelson. Although he doesn't need any help bringing the Spirit I can tell you that. Once he walked in the room the Spirit was there, like at the snap of a finger. Here are some things he said that I liked a lot:
1) We are a strong minority, there is a huge majority out there waiting for us to teach them, but we don't need to be intimidated, because we are on the winning team.
2) This is the last dispensation of the Gospel. This will not be in a segment of the earth, like the other dispensations, but it will FILL the whole earth. And this time, it will not end in apostasy, but it will continue until the 2nd coming of the Savior.
3) Pure testimony is irrefutable and it is POWERFUL.
So true! His words really helped me. I have been so lucky to be taught by members of the Quorum of the Twelve. And I can tell you that even though I hate the food here, I have definitely been spiritually fed.

WOW! That was crazy to hear about dad saving Mary's life! I hope she is doing better and recovers soon. She will definitely be in my prayers. Erika, your letter made me and Sister Jones laugh so hard! I am glad you are happy with your times in track. You are a beast! I try to run everyday but it hurts and I get bored so sometimes I just stretch. Haha I am proud of you for doing all the things you do, you're amazing. Mom, about the pictures you sent me of the shoes... haha no. Love you, but no. The ones you sent me are BOMB! They are like heaven for my feet. I can't thank you enough for them! They have saved my feet and are pretty dang cute too. Good job on picking some that I would like! Don't worry about buying me more shoes, 'cause you still have to send me the ones that I left at home. (Unless you find the cheetah, sparkle Sperry's on sale :) then send me those for Christmas or my birthday or something). You all have been on my mind this week with the recital going on, I cried a little the other day wishing I was there. As crazy as it is, I love recital time of the year. A chance for the girls to showcase their talents and realize how far they have come. I pushed them hard this year and pulled out on top. They should be VERY proud of themselves. I sent a letter addressed to all the company girls. I hope you get it today. Don't forget to wait for the mailman and read it to them before they start the shows and before you say a prayer together. That was one of my most favorite times together is praying as a dance company before shows. Tell Senior Elite to please pray together before they do "Fix You". That dance is like my testimony put into movement. I watch it and I can't believe that it even came out of me. And I know I was inspired by the Spirit when I choreographed it. It is a special message and I know it will touch people if they do it with the right spirit and REMEMBER what it is about. The lyrics to this song that I sang with the MTC choir is what that dance is about. Read them to the girls today before the show so they can hear and know what they are dancing about in that piece.

Behold the wounds in Jesus' hands, The marks upon His side, Then ponder who He meant to save, When on the cross He died.  We cannot see the love of God, Which saves us from the fall, Yet know that Christ from wood and nals, Built mansions for us all.  Behold the out-stretched hands of Christ, Our God, who came to save, Whose love and grace redeems our souls, And lifts us from the grave. Though bruised and battered as we stray, His guiding hands caress, He washes and anoints with oil, Then in His arms we rest. Behold the wounds in Jesus' hands, Look to your Lord and live, He yearns to bless you with His love, And all your sins forgive, Oh empty is the heart of man, When it is filled with sin. Come, open wide your broken heart, And let your Savior in. Behold His wounded hands and feet, Come touch and see and feel, The wounds and marks that you may know, His love for you is real. Then as you fall to worship Him, And wash His feet in tears, Your Savior takes you in His arms and quiets all your fears....... your Savior takes you in His arms and quiets all your fears.

Love,
Sister Adams