So the big news this week was that half of our district left to go to the MTC in the Dominican Republic this week, we had a big testimony meeting in class the day the left and it was just so awesome. I know they are going to be awesome missionaries because of the testimonies they have in this gospel, I miss all of them already, but we're still having fun. One of them lost there passport on the way down there, made it to Puerto Rico, and had to come back, and guess what, he was assigned to our companionship. I'm in a three missionary companionship now. It's been pretty crazy, its a lot harder with three people. My companion and I have already left him in the cafeteria twice now, which I feel really bad about because of everything he went through. He ended up having to live in Puerto Rico for two days before the Church could get him some flights back, and he still doesn't have his luggage now, because that made it to the MTC in the Domincan. I'll make sure to tell you more about how that is going next week after we've all tried to teach together.
So more big news, I started making calls in the Referral Center in Spanish this week, and it is intense. I had one really nice lady from NYC that I called I was talking to and she started saying something super fast and I told her "Estoy tratando aprender Español pero no hablo muy bien, pueda halbar más despacio por favór?" and she replied back "do you want me to speak Spanish or English?" It was really funny, anyway, I told her to speak Spanish so I could practice and we had a really nice conversation and she wants me to call her back, man I just love Spanish people. Anyway, so things have been going really well.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Week 3 at the MTC
I am in a new zone and district and all my MTC box has changed, my address is still all the same but it is box # 86 now instead of 294, so send stuff to box #86, and I love letters, just throwing that in there.
This week has gone by so fast, it seems like it was just P-day and I was just sending an email. The language has been coming along really well, the intermediate class is really hard, the teachers only speak in Spanish to us, all the time, but it is really helping. Yesterday my companion and I taught our first lesson in Spanish. We managed to go the whole day only speaking in Spanish, that was really fun. We made a goal in our district to make Monday el día del español and it really helps. Every time we would talk to anyone that doesn't speak Spanish one of us had to say what we wanted in Spanish and the other one would translate. It really helps speaking and comprehension too. I've tried to learn some Guaraní also, but I'm really just focusing on Spanish right now. I'm going to need it but the only way to learn Guaraní is to speak Spanish so I think I am going to leave that mostly until I get there. Guarani is fun to learn though, it is a nasil language. The words are kind of weird to pronounce, and really hard, but it is so fun. The only thing I really know how to say right now is how are you, which is Mbe'échapa (pronounced em-by-eh-sha-pa), but I am trying to learn more. The Hermana here that is from my mission I told you about gave me a whole list of words I've been trying to use, but I think I'm just mostly sticking to Spanish now, once I master that Guaraní will be a whole lot easier.
This week has been a super spiritual uplifting week for me, we were able to go to the referal center a lot this week and make calls, and that is always fun. I actually had one really cool experience, I got three outgoing calls in a row calling to see if they received their Book of Mormons they ordered. All three people pretty much blasted me with how I would be condemned because of the things I was going to teach. I remembered many scriptures I learned in seminary but I didn't use any of them, all I did was bear a solemn testimony of the things I personally know to be true. All of them seemed pretty impressed with how open-minded I was with them and willing to listen. At the end of the conversations none of them wanted to change but there was definately mutual respect. Through all of this I was kind of getting discouraged, yet these people without even knowing were strenghtening my testimony. I found it so amazing how much truth they knew, and how much good they believed in, and how stubborn they were over one specific issue, and it seemed like the same for all of them, that Jesus couldn't be the son of God because only a sacrifice of a god would be good enough to save mankind. It was really hard to see such, what seemed like to me, good people so close to the truth and pushing so hard against it. It was frustrating. So I kept making calls and was just about to leave (most of the time people just don't pick up, this seemed to happen a lot after all this) and right when it was time to go I decided to call one more person. I called to see if he had got his Book of Mormon and he said he had and I just started to bear my testimony to him about the power the Book has and the peace we receive from it. The very first thing he said back was, "Don't worry, I think we are both on the same page, just give me a little time to read it." I was so excited, I just had person after person tell me how bad I am and was going to give up. Now I have an investigator I am going to call back at the end of this week to see how it went, and how he felt when he prayed. I am just so amazed by this work, at how real it is and the power it brings to me in teaching it. I wouldn't give this experience away for anything and I know without a doubt I am doing what is right. Teaching this gospel already has brought me closer to it and I can't wait to see the joy it will bring to others.
This week has gone by so fast, it seems like it was just P-day and I was just sending an email. The language has been coming along really well, the intermediate class is really hard, the teachers only speak in Spanish to us, all the time, but it is really helping. Yesterday my companion and I taught our first lesson in Spanish. We managed to go the whole day only speaking in Spanish, that was really fun. We made a goal in our district to make Monday el día del español and it really helps. Every time we would talk to anyone that doesn't speak Spanish one of us had to say what we wanted in Spanish and the other one would translate. It really helps speaking and comprehension too. I've tried to learn some Guaraní also, but I'm really just focusing on Spanish right now. I'm going to need it but the only way to learn Guaraní is to speak Spanish so I think I am going to leave that mostly until I get there. Guarani is fun to learn though, it is a nasil language. The words are kind of weird to pronounce, and really hard, but it is so fun. The only thing I really know how to say right now is how are you, which is Mbe'échapa (pronounced em-by-eh-sha-pa), but I am trying to learn more. The Hermana here that is from my mission I told you about gave me a whole list of words I've been trying to use, but I think I'm just mostly sticking to Spanish now, once I master that Guaraní will be a whole lot easier.
This week has been a super spiritual uplifting week for me, we were able to go to the referal center a lot this week and make calls, and that is always fun. I actually had one really cool experience, I got three outgoing calls in a row calling to see if they received their Book of Mormons they ordered. All three people pretty much blasted me with how I would be condemned because of the things I was going to teach. I remembered many scriptures I learned in seminary but I didn't use any of them, all I did was bear a solemn testimony of the things I personally know to be true. All of them seemed pretty impressed with how open-minded I was with them and willing to listen. At the end of the conversations none of them wanted to change but there was definately mutual respect. Through all of this I was kind of getting discouraged, yet these people without even knowing were strenghtening my testimony. I found it so amazing how much truth they knew, and how much good they believed in, and how stubborn they were over one specific issue, and it seemed like the same for all of them, that Jesus couldn't be the son of God because only a sacrifice of a god would be good enough to save mankind. It was really hard to see such, what seemed like to me, good people so close to the truth and pushing so hard against it. It was frustrating. So I kept making calls and was just about to leave (most of the time people just don't pick up, this seemed to happen a lot after all this) and right when it was time to go I decided to call one more person. I called to see if he had got his Book of Mormon and he said he had and I just started to bear my testimony to him about the power the Book has and the peace we receive from it. The very first thing he said back was, "Don't worry, I think we are both on the same page, just give me a little time to read it." I was so excited, I just had person after person tell me how bad I am and was going to give up. Now I have an investigator I am going to call back at the end of this week to see how it went, and how he felt when he prayed. I am just so amazed by this work, at how real it is and the power it brings to me in teaching it. I wouldn't give this experience away for anything and I know without a doubt I am doing what is right. Teaching this gospel already has brought me closer to it and I can't wait to see the joy it will bring to others.
Week 2 at the MTC
Everything here has been so great. I had such a full week last week I don't even know where to start. My companion was having a really hard time here. Well it ended up being more than that and everything has just worked out so perfectly there is no way to explain it but to say that the Lord has been watching over us, but before I can fully explain that story, I need to tell another one...
The first Friday here, my teacher pulled me and another missionary in our zone out of class, we thought for sure he was mad at us or something. I couldn't understand why he would pull me out, I mean the other guy sure, but not me. It turns out he thought we were both way too good at Spanish to be in the beginner class so he had us both tested to test out and go to the intermediate class. He was super impressed because I used the future tense in class one day. We didn't hear anything for a long time so we just figured we didn't pass the test and were stuck in beginner Spanish, but then last Thursday the guy over all the Spanish pulled us out and told us that we were definately intermediate Spanish level. The reason he waited so long was because the class was already so big he was trying to figure out how to make room for us. To make a long story short, because I have very little time, I was put with this other missionary and we are both now in intermediate Spanish, we moved up last Friday.
I am totally convinced that the Lord was completely had His hand in my not moving up for that long for a reason. As I said, my first companion was having a super hard time here. Every night he would get super sad and I would have to help him and console him. I don't want to get into the details, but he would be so up and then down. I would just have to pick him up. Last Friday, the same day I was moved and switched companions, he was scheduled to see a doctor because they think he has a medical issue that is making him super sad sometimes. Anyway, the reason I tell the story is that I know that the Lord wanted me to be with him until someone could figure out what was going on with him. At the very same time as when he was in an interveiw scheduling to see the doctor, my soon to be companion was picking up our new schedules. The more I think about it, the more I can see how the Lord was involved. I knew I should have passed the test. I took the same test here as I did on the phone and I passed easily here. I really know that the Lord just was looking out for my first companion and me at the same time, so he put off what I needed just for about 10 days so that he could give my first companion what he needed. I am just so grateful I was able to help. It was pretty hard to leave our old district to go to the new class, but I know it was what was right and I know that the Lord is looking over all of us, all the time, even when we don't think about it.
So my new companion is pretty cool, we were in the same district before so I already knew him so it hasn't been too hard. He's from California and went to BYU last year and is a lot like me, so we get along really well. We're actually in this little competition to see who can get more mail, and he is definately crushing me, so I could use a little help with that if that is okay... oh, and you are allowed to send me as many letters as you want mom, don't think you have to stop at one, I laughed when you asked that question...
Anyway, General Conference was so awesome, it was so nice to just relax for a little while, and it was crazy how much what the speakers were talking about was wrapped around what I am doing. We have been focusing so much on God's love for everyone and the importance of showing the investegator how to feel the Spirit and the importance of it. It seemed as though everyone said something about that, so that was just awesome how it applied so much to me.
I am soo excited to learn the Indian language in Paraguay, Guarani. There is this sister missionary here that is from my mission going to Salt Lake on hers, so she speaks English to me and I speak Spanish to her so we can both practice, and she has been teaching me some Guarani. I already know how to say some things like, How are you? and such.
The first Friday here, my teacher pulled me and another missionary in our zone out of class, we thought for sure he was mad at us or something. I couldn't understand why he would pull me out, I mean the other guy sure, but not me. It turns out he thought we were both way too good at Spanish to be in the beginner class so he had us both tested to test out and go to the intermediate class. He was super impressed because I used the future tense in class one day. We didn't hear anything for a long time so we just figured we didn't pass the test and were stuck in beginner Spanish, but then last Thursday the guy over all the Spanish pulled us out and told us that we were definately intermediate Spanish level. The reason he waited so long was because the class was already so big he was trying to figure out how to make room for us. To make a long story short, because I have very little time, I was put with this other missionary and we are both now in intermediate Spanish, we moved up last Friday.
I am totally convinced that the Lord was completely had His hand in my not moving up for that long for a reason. As I said, my first companion was having a super hard time here. Every night he would get super sad and I would have to help him and console him. I don't want to get into the details, but he would be so up and then down. I would just have to pick him up. Last Friday, the same day I was moved and switched companions, he was scheduled to see a doctor because they think he has a medical issue that is making him super sad sometimes. Anyway, the reason I tell the story is that I know that the Lord wanted me to be with him until someone could figure out what was going on with him. At the very same time as when he was in an interveiw scheduling to see the doctor, my soon to be companion was picking up our new schedules. The more I think about it, the more I can see how the Lord was involved. I knew I should have passed the test. I took the same test here as I did on the phone and I passed easily here. I really know that the Lord just was looking out for my first companion and me at the same time, so he put off what I needed just for about 10 days so that he could give my first companion what he needed. I am just so grateful I was able to help. It was pretty hard to leave our old district to go to the new class, but I know it was what was right and I know that the Lord is looking over all of us, all the time, even when we don't think about it.
So my new companion is pretty cool, we were in the same district before so I already knew him so it hasn't been too hard. He's from California and went to BYU last year and is a lot like me, so we get along really well. We're actually in this little competition to see who can get more mail, and he is definately crushing me, so I could use a little help with that if that is okay... oh, and you are allowed to send me as many letters as you want mom, don't think you have to stop at one, I laughed when you asked that question...
Anyway, General Conference was so awesome, it was so nice to just relax for a little while, and it was crazy how much what the speakers were talking about was wrapped around what I am doing. We have been focusing so much on God's love for everyone and the importance of showing the investegator how to feel the Spirit and the importance of it. It seemed as though everyone said something about that, so that was just awesome how it applied so much to me.
I am soo excited to learn the Indian language in Paraguay, Guarani. There is this sister missionary here that is from my mission going to Salt Lake on hers, so she speaks English to me and I speak Spanish to her so we can both practice, and she has been teaching me some Guarani. I already know how to say some things like, How are you? and such.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Elder Adamson's First Letter September 29, 2009
Hello! This is Elder Adamson V,
(Must explain the Elder Adamson V, Ryan is our fifth son and our fifth to serve a mission. He was preceded by David, Chile Santiago North; Robert, Puerto Rico, San Juan: Joseph, Spain, Canary Islands; Gary, Argentina, Buenos Aires.)
I've been here now for just about 6 days and I am loving it here. It is pretty hard, but it is so much fun to be here. I just love all the people I am with. My companion is pretty awesome, he's an Oklahoma boy, a 6' 4" and a solid 265 pounds Oklahoma boy! He is solid, he played rugby for BYU last year, so he is pretty big and solid. It is so awesome being with him....
So get this, yesterday I had a conversation outside the main enterance with Elder Scott, yeah, Richard G. Scott, in Spanish, and I didn't even recognize who he was. We were walking outside bearing our testimonies to other missionaries in Spanish and he walked by and asked in Spanish if we spoke often in our mission language. I explained to him that we had only been here 5 days but we were trying hard to speak as much as we could, he complimented us and then walked into the building. Everything he said to me was in Spanish, I guess he comes to the MTC to learn more languages, and that's why he was here. He is already fluent in Spanish. We were walking away and the man we were with told us that it was Elder Scott, and it was so obvious to me I couldn't even believe I didn't recognize him.
EVERYONE SEND ME MAIL!!!! through dearelder.com. (Be sure to check on Provo MTC on the left---My Mailbox is #294, Mission code PAR-ASUN, and leave date 1123.)
DearElder.com is pretty much the coolest thing I have ever seen. You go online to dearelder.com and then find me and you can write me a letter and they will print it and give it to me here. It's so awesome because I get it the same day and you don't have to pay anything, its free. And its better than email because I don't have to take any of my email time to read letters. I only have a half an hour to write emails. So put it up on my blog or something, dearelder.com, its completely free and so convenient for me, and I'm pretty sure you can do it my whole mission, when I leave here they can print them out at my mission office. I would love to get mail!.... Tell everyone about dearelder, and tell my brothers and sisters to use it too and leave their email in the letter so I can write them back that way. Oh, and if you could send me stamps, I only get 6 dollars on my card a week and stamps are pretty expensive, that would be awesome. (Stamps have been sent)
I love all of you and I hope everyone is doing alright, I know I am where I am supposed to be and even now I can see the work moving forward through my efforts. Last night I was chatting with a 16 year old boy online in the referal center for 50 minutes about Jesus Christ and the atonement and how He loves us, and he committed to pray last night to know if what we talked about was true, it was kind of sad though, because I ran out of time right after I told him we could have missionaries visit him or he could call me back and the chat disconnected, but I know he felt the spirit of what I was telling him and that he will come in his own time. I love my Savior, it is so real what he has done for us, and I can't wait to help more lives come to that knowledge. I love and miss you all, but I will see you soon,
Love, Elder Adamson V
(Must explain the Elder Adamson V, Ryan is our fifth son and our fifth to serve a mission. He was preceded by David, Chile Santiago North; Robert, Puerto Rico, San Juan: Joseph, Spain, Canary Islands; Gary, Argentina, Buenos Aires.)
I've been here now for just about 6 days and I am loving it here. It is pretty hard, but it is so much fun to be here. I just love all the people I am with. My companion is pretty awesome, he's an Oklahoma boy, a 6' 4" and a solid 265 pounds Oklahoma boy! He is solid, he played rugby for BYU last year, so he is pretty big and solid. It is so awesome being with him....
So get this, yesterday I had a conversation outside the main enterance with Elder Scott, yeah, Richard G. Scott, in Spanish, and I didn't even recognize who he was. We were walking outside bearing our testimonies to other missionaries in Spanish and he walked by and asked in Spanish if we spoke often in our mission language. I explained to him that we had only been here 5 days but we were trying hard to speak as much as we could, he complimented us and then walked into the building. Everything he said to me was in Spanish, I guess he comes to the MTC to learn more languages, and that's why he was here. He is already fluent in Spanish. We were walking away and the man we were with told us that it was Elder Scott, and it was so obvious to me I couldn't even believe I didn't recognize him.
EVERYONE SEND ME MAIL!!!! through dearelder.com. (Be sure to check on Provo MTC on the left---My Mailbox is #294, Mission code PAR-ASUN, and leave date 1123.)
DearElder.com is pretty much the coolest thing I have ever seen. You go online to dearelder.com and then find me and you can write me a letter and they will print it and give it to me here. It's so awesome because I get it the same day and you don't have to pay anything, its free. And its better than email because I don't have to take any of my email time to read letters. I only have a half an hour to write emails. So put it up on my blog or something, dearelder.com, its completely free and so convenient for me, and I'm pretty sure you can do it my whole mission, when I leave here they can print them out at my mission office. I would love to get mail!.... Tell everyone about dearelder, and tell my brothers and sisters to use it too and leave their email in the letter so I can write them back that way. Oh, and if you could send me stamps, I only get 6 dollars on my card a week and stamps are pretty expensive, that would be awesome. (Stamps have been sent)
I love all of you and I hope everyone is doing alright, I know I am where I am supposed to be and even now I can see the work moving forward through my efforts. Last night I was chatting with a 16 year old boy online in the referal center for 50 minutes about Jesus Christ and the atonement and how He loves us, and he committed to pray last night to know if what we talked about was true, it was kind of sad though, because I ran out of time right after I told him we could have missionaries visit him or he could call me back and the chat disconnected, but I know he felt the spirit of what I was telling him and that he will come in his own time. I love my Savior, it is so real what he has done for us, and I can't wait to help more lives come to that knowledge. I love and miss you all, but I will see you soon,
Love, Elder Adamson V
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