I am a big shot because I am one of God's kids!

HEY EVERYONE!!! Erika I am so sorry you are sickly... but I am SO HAPPY you will be home when I get home! WOOO!! Then we can get down to business and start school together in January. 

So my companions and I have a new best friend.  He is the patriarch of the Buffalo Stake, Patriarch Van Tassel.  He has been giving us really good restaurants that you HAVE to go and try here in the area so we are definitely foodie buddies with him.  Then we were invited to the family home evening that he hosts each Monday and we can bring investigators and less actives anytime we want he said.  So AWESOME! THEN, he offered to take us to the temple.  Well, Bill and Beverly Excell were going to do their family names and Beverly really wanted me to be baptized for her sister.  I didn't think I would be able to go and Beverly and I were so sad about it.  But then Patriarch Van Tassel just offered and was free that day! What a miracle!  So we went and did a session and then we did baptisms with Bill and Beverly!  Well I was expecting to see the Excells but when I walked into the baptistery and saw them AND the Breinholts AND Jim AND Brother Bailey my eyes just welled up with tears! Spending nine months with people you get really close, so I just could not control my emotions I was so happy to see them. I was ready to be baptized for Beverly's sister, Genevieve, and before Elder Breinholt started I looked back and Beverly and see was crying and I just felt that Genevieve was there and I started crying and the Spirit that was there was incredible. She has been learning the gospel on the other side and has accepted it.  I am so grateful that God gives everyone a chance to receive the fullness of the gospel and that we get to be involved with that process is such a blessing. 

It was Jesse's birthday this last Sunday and he is now a big ol' 15!!! We weren't able to go see him but we did call him and sing Happy Birthday.  And when three really excited missionaries sing "Happy Birthday" and shout random things in the middle of the phrases I guess it it really funny.  Jesse told us it was his favorite part about his birthday and he even recorded it on his phone haha. 

Service at the Sentmans this week was great! I got to use the sludge-hammer and huge tree trimmers and saws and stuff.  We got a lot done outside.  It was a really hot muggy day so Brother Sentman gave me some of his favorite chocolate milk that is made here at the local dairy.  It was like drinking and fudgesicle! 

The Strouds are a senior couple at the sites and they drove all the way up here on their p-day just to take me to lunch before I go home.  They are so nice! So now the Howells are trying to do the same this week- possibly tomorrow- and then the Poulsons are trying to get me for a breakfast sometime this week.  I didn't know everyone loved me so much! I feel like I have so many extra sets of grandparents. They are all so sweet.  I am so glad I got to serve with all of them for most of my mission. 

Yesterday we went to a car show festival thing down my Niagara River for Labor Day.  There were TONS of people there so we thought it would be great for contacting.  Well it was harder than we thought because most people wanted to talk cars and I know little to nothing about cars.  Just the random little things Dad has told me. So randomly I just started chatting with this old man in his lawn chair named Frank. He was an answer to the prayer in my heart that our time would be effective there. He taught us all about his '62 Ford T-bird and told us about his family and his life.  We heard it all!  He is a retired cop and so the cops are riding around on their horses and he says, "come on girls! let me introduce you to my friends!"  So we met all the cops and the people working the booths and people who brought cars to show.  It was crazy! Frank just toted us around and introduced us to everyone and we talked to so many people! He even bought us food there for dinner!  What a cool guy.  He lives far away but we are planning on keeping in contact with him so he can learn more about the gospel.  I know Heavenly Father put us right where we needed to be. 

This week at the Flecks, Brother Fleck told us he was a "big shot" and Sister Fleck said, "isn't that kind of prideful?!"  He was like, "Well I am! I am a big shot because I am one of God's kids!" Haha it has been our quote this week.  I get to work with the most hilarious, wonderful, special people.  I have loved being here in this area. 

Well, I am out of time. But I love you all very much and you will get one last email from meMonday! XOXOXO

Sister Alexandra Adams

How did I get so lucky to be a missionary in the cradle of the restoration

Family! Last p-day we went to Niagara Falls after I emailed you and it was so fun! If I have time I will attach some pictures for you to see.  It was definitely a different perspective from the Canadian side but it is so beautiful.  I can’t believe I am serving so close to it.  It was a great day to be out walking around and enjoying the beautiful scenery… I even made some improvements on my farmers tan :)

The Boyds are a family in the ward that we are really close too and they are going through a lot right now.  They invited us over and we had a dinner and FHE with them.  It was so fun to just get to know them better and chat and play Apples to Apples.  By the end of the night they were laughing and smiling and having a good time.  It was especially good to see Sister Boyd smile.  She has been struggling.  I feel so lucky that I got to meet them and be their friend. Brother Boyd ended up winning the game even though he is blind and almost deaf haha.  He just has a great sense of humor and everyone knows that is what it takes to win Apples to Apples.

Dominique is progressing so much it is a miracle.  We have had many discussions with her this past week and she is beginning to see God more like her Heavenly Father.  She has been struggling to find a job and now she is praying to know which job to choose becauseso many people want her to work for them.  Miracles happen! And Dominique is seeing that she does have a Father in Heaven who loves her and knows what she needs.  I consider Dominique one of my dear friends.  We have just clicked with her.

We pulled some more weeds this week at the Ritter’s and finished Brother Sentmen’s giant flower bed.  He even let us use the pitch fork to pick up all of the weeds we pulled.  I felt like a true sun devil. Go ASU.  We filled up three giant trash bags full of weeds.  Brother Sentmen had on a big straw hat as he chatted with us outside when we were pulling weeds.  So we went in his garage and found 3 smaller hats and put them on.  Sister Sentmen came outside and about died laughing watching us sisters pull weeds with the straw hats on and Brother Sentmen chattin’ our ears off sitting on his chair in his big straw hat. 

Saturday we were supposed to go to the temple, but the members who we got a ride with got a flat tire when we were about a third of the way to Palmyra… it was a bummer because I don’t know when I will be able to go back.  Probably not until I get back to the Mesa temple.  That is okay though.  Everything happens for a reason.  When we got back to Grand Island we went to the farmers market and ended up talking with tons of people about the gospel and have some great potential investigators. 

2 weeks left Mom and Dad and I get to see you!  It doesn’t even seem real.  Mom, I got your letter about me being worried I won’t be happy when you come to get me.  DON’T WORRY.  I will be sad to leave NY but I will be so happy to be with you.  I keep thinking back on all of the crazy, amazing, profound miracles that have happened to me on my mission.  I can’t believe that I got to teach people the truth every single day.  It is an honor to testify of Joseph Smith and the Restoration, the Plan of Salvation, and most of all to testify of Jesus Christ- His life, His atonement, and His perfect love for us.  I feel soprivileged that I have been able to do this.  I know it is all true.  I have a testimony of it all and it is rooted so deeply that no storm could blow me over or make me fall.  This is the work of God and the fact that He has allowed someone like me to do it has been something that I can’t even put into words.  It means the world to me. 

I love you!  I hope this first week of classes at the Dance Barn go well.  Tell my girls I love them and will see them soon.

Love, Sister Adams

Pizza and Wings

What’s up family!  I can’t believe we are going into week four of this transfer.  It is so weird when people ask me how long I will be here.  I almost don’t want to answer that question… then I say “a few weeks” and they have a look of shock on their face because I just got here.   The other day this sixteen year old recent convert in our ward, Ashley, came up to talk to me and then said, “Sister Adams, you look tired.”  Ouuuuchhh… well part of it is because I sleep on an air mattress and the other reason is that I have been constantly working in the spirit which wears on your physical energy.  But it definitely is the best kind of tired to be.  Having your head hit the pillow with your heart full of love and gratitude for God and the people around you.

So New York is famous for pizza and wings but one day this week we were fed pizza and wings for a lunch appointment with Brother Ritter and his mom.   And then we did service pulling weeds for a member in our ward that just had surgery and then what did we get for dinner after service?  Pizza and wings.  Don’t get me wrong I was very grateful for the food and it was good- but I was definitely in a grease coma at the end of the day. 

We had exchanges this week with the Amherst sisters.  Sister Szuch is serving there with Sister Klepinger so Sister Hovey went to Amherst and Sister Huntington and I got Sister Szuch!   It was fun being with her again.  We lived at the Whitmer Farm as roomies for almost 8 months.  So we are really tight.  I call her Szuchy pants… don’t ask me why.  I think it is because she has zebra print pajama pants and when she wears them she is a little crazier than normal :) She calls me up’n’ Adams.

Must say that I am getting really good at pulling weeds.   We do a lot of service in gardens and flower beds.   It is nice to be outside though and I have been working really hard on my farmers tan and seeing success :)

We have been on Grand Island a lot this past week trying to visit some people who are inactive.   It has been a little rough.  Some people have been “home but hiding” and then we drive away and they are standing in the window.   Some of them are so nice and have invited us in but they feel they don’t need God right now and other things are more important.  It is hard when you have situations like that.  But because of all the people we have been trying to see we have run into a few that are interested in learning more.  So even though you have set backs, the Lord knows where you are and that you are trying and He will help you be at the right place at the right time.   Sometimes it just amazes me that the Lord is able to use someone like me to help bring His children back to Him.  It is a humbling experience.   It is amazing how when we try to follow the Savior, do His work, and develop His attributes that we come to know Him better.  I have never felt so close to God in my life and it makes me so happy.

I love you all very much and pray for you every day.  You all mean so much to me.  Xoxo

Sister Alexandra Adams

La la la la la la life is wonderful

Hey everyone!  Isn’t life wonderful?!  Sister Huntington and I were talking about it last night and it is so easy to be discouraged when things don’t happen the way you think they would.  That happens a lot as a missionary… but when you keep your eyes and your heart open the Lord shows you His hand in your life in a way that just puts a smile on your face.  This week we had so many miracles.  All three of us are more grounded in our area and have talked with so many interesting, cool people.  When I got transferred to Seneca Falls it took me a whole six weeks to feel connected to the area and the people.  So since I only have six weeks here, I have been praying so hard that I would be able to jump in and figure everything out quickly.  I have seen a miracle just within myself.  I know the area, I know the people and I know it is because God has helped me.  

We came to this area almost two weeks ago with no investigators who were progressing.  And as of today we have four!   The Lord has been so good to us.  Mary is one that we met at the Carousel Apartments.  (by the way:  North Tonawanda is the place where the first carousels were made- random but cool!)  She asked us why we go by “Sister” and our last names.  We explained it to her and now she prefers us to call her “Sister Zupo” :)  Sister Zupo is so cool and so prepared to hear the restored gospel.  She was talking to us about her beliefs and how she feels about God and life and everything she says is what we believe in our church.  She is a testimony that the Lord really does prepare the hearts of His children to hear the truth He has given us.

Jesse is a 14 year old boy who lives on Grand Island.  The elders were teaching him before, but then he told them he didn't want to learn anymore.  So we just dropped by and got to know him and his parents and asked if he wanted to learn again.  He said he did want to learn again and that he noticed he was happier when he was reading the Book of Mormon and taking the missionary lessons.   At first I was worried because he is a teenage boy and he might feel awkward around us because we aren’t the elders, but it is the opposite.  Jesse is doing great and last night after our lesson he sent us a text that said, “Thank you for joining us for dinner and for teaching me tonight.  I am excited to learn.  You guys are really cool and stuff.”  He is a great kid and now his mom, Tracy, wants to sit in and learn as well.

Dominique is another investigator we are teaching.  She is in her twenties and just moved here from San Diego.   She is so cool and is so close with God but she is searching for more truth about the nature of God and our relationship with Him.  She is very deep and our discussions with her are very spiritual and enlightening.  The way she sees the world and the way she expresses how she feels about her Heavenly Father is beautiful.  We are really excited to keep teaching her.  We met her at the church.  She really lives in Niagara Falls, which is an elders area, but she really clicked with us and asked if we could teach her.  It was okay with the elders and we got permission from president- so now we drive to the Falls to teach her.

We are also working with some great people who are trying to come back to church.  The Boyd family is the greatest.  We have really hit it off with them.  Brother Boyd is the sweetest little old man and when he shakes your hand and says hello he just makes you feel like you are the most important person. 

We went to the Okelberry family’s house on Grand Island for dinner and they fed us ribs.  Mmmmm need I say more?  Brother Okelberry made 15 pounds of ribs and we didn't even get close to finishing them.  Their house is CRAZY and one of the little kids said and swear word during our lesson and it was hilarious.

Brother Ritter and his mother, Evelyn, came to church for the first time in YEARS yesterday.  The ward was so welcoming to them and Evelyn was just beaming.  She is a tiny, delicate lady in her 90’s, but she was just having a good ‘ol time catching up with everyone at church.  You could fit three of her in her wheel chair she is that small.

Our district in Niagara Falls ward is so great.  The Lewiston elders are Elders, Munnerlyn, Bridley, and Lunt (he is waiting for his visa to Brazil like Sister Huntington).  The Niagara Falls elders are Elders Williams and Hancock.  And then it is us three sisters in Grand Island/North Tonawanda.   We had a district lunch at Olive Garden.  Unlimited soup, salad, and bread sticks.  It was a blast and we are already like a family.  Yesterday after church we practiced a skit we are doing today for a zone meeting about “how bad missionaries act around members”.  So we were brainstorming on things bad missionaries do that cause them to lose the trust of the ward.  Bishop Simpson is the coolest.  We had him come in and help us figure it out and when we practiced he was dying laughing at us.  So I think our skit today will be a success.  

Well this is getting to be a big honker of an email so I will be done with that.  Just know that I am happy and doing great and love this work!  Sister Hovey, Huntington, and I have been having so much fun together.  I love you all.  Thank you for your letters and support and prayers.  Life is wonderful!

Love, Sister Adams

I Got Transferred!!

SHOCKER:  I have six weeks left of my mission and I got transferred out to the Buffalo Zone!  Right now I am companions with Sister Hovey.  She is from Idaho, Twin Falls area-  and I am also training a new missionary who is waiting for her visa to go to Brazil.  Her name is Sister Huntington and she is from Georgia, Atlanta area.  We have a really fun trio going on.  And Sister Hovey and I are currently learning Portuguese from and with Sister Huntington to keep her language skills up. Our area is called Grand Island. If you were floating down the Niagara River, it is the largest island you could land on before you fall off the Falls. Our area is Grand Island, North Tonawanda, and a little bit of Niagara. We attended the Niagara Falls Ward for the first time yesterday.  This week has been quite the adventure and so much fun.  My p-day is now Mondays because I am full-proselyting -- no shifts at the historic sites.  We are flushing the area so both the elders left and now the three of us are here. We were given a GPS to use, which has saved us from getting lost and helped us to find some really good NY pizza and Buffalo wings. (you gotta have buffalo wings in Buffalo!) 

There haven't been sisters in this area for over 8 years so people keep freaking out that they are seeing sister missionaries- it's pretty funny. I had so many old ladies come up and talk to me in relief society and some of the less-actives that have called us are really confused.  Some of the recent converts in the ward called our phone thinking it was the elders and got a "Hello this is Sister Adams!"  Immediately the woman on the phone went, "females?"  I explained to her that there are sister or "girl" missionaries and she started screaming to her husband, "Females!! Females!! Robert they are females!"  I almost died laughing.  Finally I found out that their names are Brother and Sister Fleck and we went and taught them a lesson and got to know them a little bit.  Elder Adams served here when I was a new missionary and because I might be related to him they are obsessed with me.  Elder Adams was the best man in their wedding and baptized them.  So when they prayed they told Heavenly Father how excited they were that "Sister Adams is here with her comrades." Haha oh boy I love them so much.  Sisters Hovey, Huntington and I have met so many interesting people here and every time I am getting to know someone new I feel like I am in a movie or something.  Seriously, everyone is so dynamic and has a crazy life story.  It has been a long week, but definitely busy, and DEFINITELY entertaining. 

We visited Jerry this week and he used to be a clown so before we left his house he made each of us a balloon animal, whatever animal we wanted!  It was impressive how fast he busted those out.  I got a little tiger.  We also met a woman named Jaroldine and her house was filled with books.  Floor to ceiling. And she had read them all.  We decided to walk to her house to save miles but didn't realize it was a little over three miles away.  It was a nice walk but took a little longer to get there than we thought.  So she drove us back to where our car was parked and she had this HUGE old van. The chairs in the back were like lazy boy huge and there where curtains over the windows and everything.  All three of us sisters could probably live in it, it's that big.  Jaroldine had a stroke not to long ago so we were nervous of her driving...but she insisted on driving us so we just said a little prayer in our hearts and we made it back to the car safely. 

Our church building is 30 minutes away so that will take some adjusting.  At the Whitmer I was just across the parking lot!  But I love it out here in Grand Island.  The people are so great.  It is weird not being at the sites but it is a nice change and I am loving it!  I love you all very much! 

Here's my new address:
56 Klaum Ave
North Tonawanda, NY 14120

Love, Sister Adams

Life is Back to Normal + Pictures

Pageant is over.  It was a sad day, but Sister Tipton and I are happy to be back in Seneca Falls teaching our friends.  The sites are still busy, but they seem slow because with Pageant they are insanely busy.  We had around 40,000 visitors this year during Pageant season. 

This week has flown by and we have been a little bit on Pageant hangover… but we are recovering.  It is weird not having as many things to do anymore.  We worked overtime for so long that now life seems way chill.  I can’t even describe how nice it has been to get all of our studies in though.  During Pageant we squeeze as much as we can in… but sitting down for a full hour to read and write down my thoughts this morning was the most refreshing thing.   The amount of study time we get as missionaries is a blessing and totally sets the tone for the day.

Sister Tipton and I will be busy contacting all of the referrals from the Pageant in our area and hopefully getting many new investigators.  SUPER EXCITING.  Welllllllll I think that is all. I will send pictures with this since I don’t have much else to say.  I do love all of you very much and appreciate all of the fun letters I have been getting.  I will work on getting everyone written back xoxoxo.

Love, Sister Adams

Sara and I at Pageant! 

Went on splits with these two in the seating area!  Meaghan and Brealynn are now some of my best friends.

Anti's who come to try and ruin the spirit at pageant (but are unsuccessful) drive this truck.  We call it the cheese truck because it looks like a block of cheese.

left to right:  Elder Hunt, me, Sister Jones, Elder Asbury, and Elder Olsson.  We all came out together almost 16 months ago!

Livin On A Prayer + Pictures

Heyyyyyy!!! The Hill Cumorah Pageant is coming to an end tonight and I am SO SAD. But it has been quite the adventure and experience.  At this point we are super tight with the cast members and when they all leave I'm pretty sure I might cry a little.  It has so fun watching them perform each night, teaching with them in the seating area, and running into people from our ward.  I saw the Urness Family and also Brother Dickerson and Jeremy Ray and the Smith boys, Chad and Ben. We saw the Tiptons today too!! Sister Tipton was so happy to see her uncle and cousins.  I ran into Bryan and Andrea Woolsey and their family too.  We spent some time together in the frame home at the Smith Farm and it was really fun to be there with family members.  They said they tried to avoid me so they wouldn't be distracting at the end of my mission, but I came into the frame house to take over the shift when they came in right at the same time.  I LOVED it.  Because being in a place I love with people I love makes me so happy!  

Tonight is the last night of the Hill Cumorah Pageant and Mary is coming to watch it with us!  She is also bringing our investigators, Newt and Sara.  I am excited to see them!  We teach them every week usually- so being away from them for so long has been weird. We ran into Jim on the Hill the other day too!  I wanted to hug him so bad!  He volunteered to serve on security on the Hill Cumorah.  He told me that he prayed that somehow while he was serving that he would get to run into "his girls" (that is us).  Well they put him at a post where we walk by every day on the Hill and we ran into him and he said his prayers were answered!  Jim was out of town before Pageant so we haven't seen him in a loooonnnnggg time.  It was good to see him again. Sister Tipton and I will move back to Seneca Falls on Sunday night.  

Well I think that is all I have to say... I know it is short but I just can't think right now.  It's great. And the Hill Cumorah Pageant has been great!  One day I will bring you all here so you can see this show that I just rant and rave about.  I love you all!!! Have a great week! 

Love, Sister Adams

At Pageant! This is our good friend Elder Stewart from Fresno, CA

The Udalls! They are from Gilbert and were in pageant last year. So good to see them!

With Lindsay!! She came and sat with us one night. (my first convert- love her!)

Jim working security. such a boss.

My friend Brealynn playing "Laman's wife".

Oh you know... I'm good friends with "Abinadi".  He is so cool! 

We made huge roasted mallows with Brealynn in the camp trailer her and her family is staying in.  We roasted them over a hot plate and stuffed them with chocolate. mmmm!

Christ ascending

Aurien and Annwyn Bennett are in Lyons Ward and they are in the cast this year.  Yes they are twins.  I had dinner at their house a lot when I served in Newark.