Up and Adams :)

We were up and at 'em (cheesy pun my roommates came up with "Up and Adams" they say it to me all the time) this morning early so we could get a good run in and then stretch outside.  So we got to see the sunrise! It was beautiful! I love it out here in Fayette because not only is it so quiet and peaceful but it is gorgeous!  Because we live between the finger lakes (Seneca and Cayuga) people say this is "God's country" because when God created the earth He left his finger prints here in the place where the church would be restored for the last days.  That makes me laugh a little but hey, it is beautiful. 

Thank you for all the pictures you sent! It looks like Mace had a yummy treat for his birthday and some crazy people to share it with :) I loved the pictures of the horses. I cannot believe how much Ringo and Honey have GROWN!  It is so weird to see.  Dad's letter told me Tilly was taken up to Eager to get "her ticket punched".  That term still makes me laugh. So we will be having a baby colt in the near future... the adventure never ends.  That will be fun. 

Sister Tipton and I had some great successes this week. The Lord has been so good to us. On Monday, we worked at the Hill Cumorah taking tours and then had only a few hours in our proselyting area that evening.  Somehow we were able to teach 2 lessons, and contact a former investigator who wants to learn again, and find a less active member who was not even on our radar.  It was so awesome! All that and then make the 20 minute drive back to our home in Fayette on time for curfew.  Bishop Egan gave us this list of inactive people who's addresses are wrong on the records- so we have to go search them out. (We call it our FBI list) We first go to their last known address to see if the people that now live there know where this person went.  We had an address that was really far away and we finally got a chance to drive there.  We knocked on the door and the woman from behind the screen said, "Hey girls! come in!"  We were both thinking... ohh how nice she doesn't even know who we are and she's letting us in.  We sat down in her living room with her HUGE dog trying to climb in Sister Tipton's lap (he was easily double Duke's size) and started to ask her questions and get to know her.  All the sudden she goes, "You don't know I am a member do you.."  We told her we hadn't seen her at church and she said she hasn't been to church for a very long time, but that she wants help coming back.  She changed her work schedule so she wasn't working on Sundays and then the Lord brings us to her door!  It was a cool experience.  We taught her an impromptu lesson and in the middle of it the beast of a dog comes up and licks all the way up my arm and into my hair on the side of my head.  Cathy then goes, "Little Foot! GET OVER HERE!" Hahaha his name was little foot and he was bigger than the dog on the Sandlot!  I almost died laughing.  He was a sweet dog and the lesson turned out really good and Cathy is going to start coming back to church!

This week we also had an opportunity to do service for a less-active member.  She is a single mom going through chiropractic school at NYCC in Seneca Falls, has three sons, two of them our twins and one of them is a special needs child.  I honestly don't know how she does it.  It was good because she hasn't been responding to us and finally she let us come to help her. I hope we can help her come back to to activity so when she moves after she graduates she doesn't get lost in the mix. 

We had interviews with President Christianson this week.  It was really great.  He asked me if I had any questions for him and I just asked him what I could do better.  He gave me advice that I know was inspired and exactly what I needed.  I am thankful for my mission president who helps me in this process of becoming the missionary Heavenly Father wants me to be.  He told me it was our last interview together and I got teary-eyed thinking about how he and Sister Christianson will be leaving soon.  They go home right before the pageant and President Francis and his family will be here right in time for the chaos (organized chaos of course). I will have my last two transfers with the new mission president.  I am excited to get to meet him and learn from him too. 

For site meeting this week we had it at the Whitmer Farm.  They had us give example tours for when buses home for the new missionaries that haven't seen these sites full of over 50 people.  Sister Tipton and I got to show how things should be done in the chapel (which is right next door to the visitors' center).  It was a good experience for us and the Spirit just filled the chapel as we taught and testified of the miracles that occurred here on the Whitmer Farm.  I was grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony with all of the great missionaries I serve with.  We have our own "site missionary family" with all of the sisters and senior couples and it is just a blast. 

We have gotten permission from Salt Lake and officially started the pilot on the new referral system that we have been working out here. I am really excited about it and have such a testimony of the impact members have on missionary work.  I have already seen miracles happen just by members not being shy and in a normal way sharing how the gospel has blessed their family with their friends that don't know about it.  If this gospel is going to fill the earth we need members that are truly converted and who have a fire of missionary work burning in their hearts.  I have it burning in mine.  I have never experienced joy this sweet and I know it is because I am involved in the greatest, most important work right now- and that is the work of the Lord.  He loves us and He wants all to partake of salvation. "... NOW is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." (Alma 34:31-32)  Family, I love you.  Please do those things that bring you closer to God.  We need His help and He can only give it to us if we choose it.  Always do those things that strengthen your conversion to the Lord. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32) 

Love, Sister Adams

The Wind Howls Out Here at the Whitmer

Okay I have never felt wind blow this hard in my life.  I think I have almost fallen over almost ten times today.  We live here in the middle of nowhere and it is all flat so the wind just whips through.  Definitely a day for a long skirt :)

Hey everyone! I am excited for the Dance Barn today because it is show time!  Sounds like you are all ready to go and ready to rock it.  I am excited to see it on video when I get home and to see how much all of my dancers have improved!  I'm sure you will knock my socks off. Then you can all have a good laugh at me trying to dance since I have lost pretty much everything. Good luck to everyone tonight!

We went back to the Seneca Lake Girls' Camp to finish opening up the cabins.  I am glad we did that because I don't know how Sister Breinholt was going to get up and down off the bunks cleaning them and washing the windows up top.  It was such a beautiful day to be at the camp working.  Sister Breinholt was so funny zipping us around from cabin to cabin on her golf cart.  She is a crazy driver!  She knows we get a kick out of it too so she drives even faster and crazier.  I love that woman.

Sister Tipton and I contacted so many less-active members this week!  It was such a miracle we went at the right time because they are so hard to get a hold of. Two of them agreed to meet with us and have the missionary lessons again to help them come back. (yay!) We also drove down to the very southern part of our mission to see if we could contact the less-actives that live in the middle of no where. We stopped at a house and this back woods guy came up to us with a chain saw and was like, "Hi mams, I'm Buckwheat! How can I help you?"  He was so nice to us but told us the woman we were looking for had moved.  We asked him if he would be interested in learning about the restored gospel and he told us he wasn't "churchy".  So yeah! I totally met a guy named Buckwheat. Awesome. I wanted to make sure I heard him right so as Sister Tipton and I drove away I asked her, "Did he say his name was Buckwheat?" Sister Tipton was like, "I think so.. Yeah he did!"  Haha we got a good chuckle.

We met with Sara and her boyfriend Scott this week.  We walked to the park with them and taught them outside.  It was such a beautiful day! I think it was good for them to get out of their smokey house too and get some fresh air. They both really loved the lesson and have been reading the Book of Mormon and praying together. So good!

We taught Jinny and Greg this past week. They still don't show up to church... I love them a lot I hope they come this Sunday. Jinny was so cute, after the lesson so goes, "I made BANANA CAKE!!!" haha she surprised us with banana cake for a little treat.

Overall, this week has gone good.  Sister Tipton and I have so much fun together.  She is a great missionary. I love everything about missionary life. I got the chance to take two men here on business on tour at the BOMPS and it was a cool experience.  One is a member of our faith and the other was not.  The one who was not familiar with our church and missionary work was asking me a lot of questions about my missionary service and why I am here.  It was good for me to reflect on my journey that I've had on my mission and be able to testify to him of the truth.  He was really touched by the conversation we had.  He told me he had read parts of the Book of Mormon and that now he wants to read it AND pray.  I hope he does it. No one can know spiritual truths without prayer.  It is so key in our spiritual growth. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost who can teach us truth, bring things to our remembrance (God knew I would need that), to lead us and guide us, and to comfort us when we feel alone.  Because in truth we are never alone.  God is nearer than we think He is and He is in the details... if we look for Him. :)

I love you! 

Sister Alexandra Adams

Sister Raines and I. We wear the same colors all the time. And we look exhausted... You know how we be. 

Down in the very edge of our mission. Watch our for Amish! 

 In the Sacred Grove

 Early spring in the Sacred Grove

 Robins! We have these little guys ALL over the Whitmer Farm! Look at his cute little red tummy! I feel like I live in Mary Poppins. 

General Authorities are the Coolest!!

Was not General Conference the most powerful most awesome thing! Oh my gosh I was blown away. So many of the talks helped me (President Utchdorf on hope and light) and knocked my socks off (Elder Bednar's chastity smack down) so I won't go into details about it all because they are all available online now to watch if you missed a few or fell asleep :) Anywayyy Conference weekend was great and we are so lucky to have the opportunity to hear the living prophets. I have such a testimony of the prophets, apostles, and the others who lead and guide our church today (don't even get me started on Sister Dalton... wow talk about power and authority in her talk). It was SWEET to watch General Conference in the Fayette Chapel realizing that 183 years ago the very first session of General Conference was held here! Mary and Sara came to conference together so we got to sit with them. They had chili and ice cream between sessions in the gym and it was so good. I got the most spicy chili and the seeds from the peppers and jalapenos were still in it! WOO BABY!

Monday was a busy day of service at Bill and Beverly's house and at the Seneca Lake Girls' Camp. We were opening the cabins and cleaning and I killed so many spiders. I tried to be nice and catch them and throw them outside but the big ones were scary and violent so I killed them. We also got to go teach Jay on Monday evening and it went well. He lives really far away so we don't get out to teach him as much. His house is still falling apart but he should be moving soon. During the lesson his cat kept rubbing up on me and I kicked it semi-gently because I really didn't want to get itchy.. then we drove back to Seneca Falls and taught Sara. I had to take a Benedryl when we got home because all the animals, dust, and smoke from our lessons that day made my eyes, throat, and lungs not happy. Needless to say, I slept goooooood :)

So I guess I keep waking Sister Tipton up in the night because I have been talking (really loud) in my sleep lately. Haha she laughs at me every morning. I am glad she gets a kick out of it instead of being annoyed because I really can't control it haha. She told me I said something about a white jumpsuit the other night. Hahaha yes! That means BAPTISM! I don't just live missionary work, I dream missionary work too!

Yesterday I was good. I was really worried about you guys and had a prayer in my heart continually for you. We had a specialized training with President and Sister Christianson- it was a great meeting and it was exactly what I needed to get through the day- high doses of spiritual oxygen that's for sure. After our meetings we had some appointments with people and then we ended teaching Jim the second half of the Plan of Salvation because we didn't finish it last time. (death, spirit world, resurrection, judgement, three degrees of glory) I was so happy to finish our day talking about those things. Mary came with us to the lesson too. I got to share with them how those who did not have the opportunity to receive the gospel are being taught it right now in the spirit world because God loves all of His children and wants everyone to have that opportunity. I felt the Spirit flood my heart as I testified of the missionary work that goes on there. I told Jim I know that this is exactly what my brother, Lance, is doing, the same work I am just in a different place. My eyes welled with tears and so did everyone else's (Jim's and Sister Tipton's and Mary's). I can't even describe the feeling we all felt as we talked about these glorious truths. Jim expressed that he really thinks Lance is teaching his wife, Grace. I believe that is true. Our loved ones watch over us and help us more than we realize... they see who we associate with and I am sure they associate with each other too. I am so glad everything worked out and the Lord strengthened me to get through the day to do His work. It truly is a marvelous work and a wonder. And I know it is all true.

I love you all very much!
Love, Sister Adams

One Year

Hi family! I have been out for a year now. I can't even believe it... it seems like I just got here, but at the same time it feels like I have been here forever.  I sometimes feel like my life at home was just a dream and this is my life now.  I'm sure I will feel just the opposite when I actually do come home.  I know you are preparing for the recital right now and it is a stressful, hard time of year with Lance's day and all that is going on.  Just know you are in my prayers constantly this week. 

Sister Tipton and I have been very busy working shifts, doing service, and proselyting in Seneca Falls.  Last Saturday at the Whitmer Farm her and I took 96 people on tour!  That is unusual for the Whitmer... and it was Sister Tipton's first day.  It was fun going on tour with her and having so many opportunities to bear testimony.  I have never felt more like an instrument in the hands of the Lord.  None of our tours were the same. They were all completely different and led by the Spirit.  I was so exhausted but edified. 

Sister Tipton and I have been going around teaching all of the people we are working with right now so she can get to know them.  It has been a privilege to teach and serve with her.  She is doing an amazing job for being so new and I am proud of her. 

On Easter we had dinner with Valerie and her husband.  She is the woman who lives in Geneva that we helped paint her yoga studio.  They fed us such a beautiful meal to thank us for the help.  We taught them the first lesson with the Brother and Sister Lindquist (their neighbors).  The Spirit filled that room. I was so proud of Brother and Sister Lindquist for not being afraid and opening their mouths about what they know to be true. I want to be like that all my life... always willing to talk about what I believe and know to help others come unto Christ. Valerie invited us to come to the studio to take a free yoga class and we did that today.  IT FELT SO GOOD.  She came up to me afterwards and said, "you are a dancer aren't you? I can tell- you are so flexible!" I was embarrassed at first but I guess I still have a little strength and technique in my body so that's a good thing. 

I have been relfecting a lot on how far I have come in the past year.  I have changed so much, I don't know if you can tell... but I have.  I am not the same person that left Arizona a year ago.  I was reading today in Alma 26 and the last verse says this, "Now my brethren,we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth.  Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks to my God forever."  I know that God is mindful of us. No matter where we are. And not just all of us together, but He is mindful of each and every individual.  That brings me joy knowing that I can always count on Him.

Well, that is all for this week. I love you :)
Love, Sister Alexandra Adams