43 - Traveling and Working

Haha, thanks for the little input about my eyes matching with the tie mom! This week was good. I'll start with p day first. So last night we got on a bus and went and stayed at the house of some other missionaries that was like an hour away. It's a super cool house! It was actually owned by a gringo, but it got broken into and they tried to kidnap his daughter, so they left back to the states a few years back. But the house is so nice! Like really nice! They have a garden in the back yard, with a full size pool! It is so dang cool! And we had 12 missionaries there last night. It was awesome! We played monopoly cards. 

Then today we woke up at like 7, we went over to the soccer field (it is astro turf) and played soccer for like 3 or 4 hours. It was awesome! But I kinda got hurt. I got kicked in the shin, in the ankles and in the knee, so it was awesome! And we had the last game go to penalties. It was actually super fun! We did gringos against latinos, and sadly we lost. But it's okay. We did 7 on 7 and there were only about 3 on our team that could actually play pretty well, so it was hard! But we had a good time. The  kids in my zone are pretty cool, we get along pretty well. 

I loved the remote control in the Christmas package, it was a great idea! And it was super fun. I loved the letters. 

Now on to the rest of the week. So it was super hard, it's really hard to get the members to work with us. It's hard because they are all busy and they don't have time. But we are still trying. We had this one kid and we have taught him a few times. He was like I don't like when people aren't honest with me. So I just kind of got serious with him and told him why we were there and how we could help him. It actually turned out super super good. Then we also found a new family to start teaching, a mom and her 3 kids. The oldest one is 8 and me and my comp both feel really really good about them. We taught them the plan of salvation, and it wasn't the best lesson I have given, but we both felt really really good about it. I could feel the spirit was there, and she had some super good questions and some really good thoughts. She had a good time and she seemed receptive, and we have another lesson with her next Sunday. I really hope things work out. It would be really nice to get a family to work with, and it would be really nice to help a family kind of grow up in the church. It would really mean a lot to me! 

Other than that things are good. We had a meeting at Cardenas this last week with the assistants and president. It was actually pretty fun. That's where the pictures from Sis. Carmack's blog were from. We learned a lot and had a good time. And the food was seriously good! There is some good barbecue here! So I'm happy! I have a few places I'll take you guys too. Don't worry!!! I love you! Have a good week! 

40 - Happy New Year

Hey mommy! Well first off, I’m doing good! New years eve was insane! And I mean insane! Every one and their dog was blowing stuff up! It was actually kinda cool! And it was fun chilling with a member. It was a good time! That sounds like an awesome party! I really want us to keep partying as a family. It’s always fun! Maybe because we are all super competitive at every single thing we do, so we always go as hard as possible! But that’s just what I think! It sounds like you guys did it pretty good without the help of the dream team, (aka me and Aust) but I’m glad you guys had fun. 

Oh, I spent $40 on the credit. I was at the mall and decided to buy a new electric shaver and speaker. And the speaker is huge! But it’s more of an after mission gift to myself and it was on sale so don’t get mad mommy! haha

But this week was pretty good. We had a good time. We found two new people to teach. The kids didn’t go to church though. But they are both really cool and both really excited to start learning more so that was super cool. There are a ton of religions out there but a lot of them are more about feeling good than teaching the true gospel. But this last Sunday we took a family to the temple. It was actually super, super awesome! We had a great time! And they all really want to enter the temple. One is a lady who lives in Florida. She told us she really wants to join the church; she just has to get her husband to do it! But that’s still good stuff going on. 

Ok, so I know my Spanish is kind of slang Spanish. But that’s how everyone here speaks. So don’t get too upset about that! But everyone says I speak a lot of Spanish for only 8 months. When I ask people how much time they think I have in the mission, they all say like a year and a half or more. So that’s a good thing to me! People think Ihave quite a lot more time! So now I just gotta keep doing better! 

I’m glad things aren’t going bad. It’s better to be doing okay than terrible. But things are going good here. I’m learning a lot and having a good time. Now that the holidays are over it’s a little less crazy. And we have some good investigators so I’m excited! 

But other than that, not much is going on, just working hard. I’m trying my best and enjoying the people. I hope everything is good there! And Marcus emailed me 3 times! It’s weird! I think he is making up for lost time ;) haha love you mommy 

Video Hello from Jake

Merry Christmas from Jake!

37 - From the Island to the Jungle!

Our Thanksgiving Dinner

It's a tienda (store) for Christmas

We've got the BFF game going strong

My favorite little fam. Little N. wanted me to take her to Hawaii

I was cashier for a while

I found an orange McLaren in the city at a gas station. I just couldn't say no to the opportunity! Loudest car I have ever heard. Tell dad it makes that Mercedes AMG sound like a little Civic!

The crew

Everyone says we could be brother and sister

My tienda family

Cute little fam bam

Chillin with the crew

A cute little gringa, E.

How American comps do matching molas

My comp, Elder S. He's from Mexico

We live in a jungle

Me and my homie

me and my comp at Cinta Costera

Panama Viejo

Some Venezuelan women I met at the mall

Hey mommy. Well I’m having to write really fast today, I’m almost out of time and my comp is waiting. But first off, I did get both the packages and I did open it. But I haven’t opened all the stuff! Just left it in my bag for now. So don’t worry! And yes I did love my birthday box! It was really cool!

I might not have time to email dad. So if not tell him I am sorry about that. 

So it kinda stinks to put on real shoes again, to be honest. And it sucks not having a hammock and wearing sandals everywhere. But my new area is called Caimatilo. It's in San Miguelito. San Mig is known best for being rundown with crime and poverty. But the funny thing is my area is actually pretty stinking nice! It's kinda weird. The only problem is that our area is giant! And I mean giant! Like one of the biggest areas in the mission! It's crazy big! But you know, that's just part of the mission. And our house is really cool. We have a walk in closet. Yes it is pretty cool stuff. But we bought Christmas lights so we are all festive and all! And then we are playing games with the kids, so it's good that you sent some games. They love them! We play cards with like everyone out here! It's actually fun. So far I've met some really cool families. They are really nice people and we have some good work to do. We have a lot of chances to talk to people but it's hard because there are some people who don't want to listen to what we teach as easily. That was a nice thing about the island. But ya that's life I guess. 

Now our area. It's super big, in the mountains, and jungly! Really jungly! Like we walk outside and we are surrounded by trees and plants. But it's fun, it's in the mountains so it's not too hot up here. That's a nice thing. I am a DL, and I'm in charge on 1 group of sisters, and 1 of elders. Both the sisters speak English. One of them is still within her first 7 days of being in the country so it's kinda funny to think that at one point my Spanish was roughly at that point. Now I just speak like it's nothing! I have confidence in my Spanish now! So that's good but it's weird. My comp tells me to talk more and I'm like dude, I don't talk a lot. And in my culture, if there isn't anything to be said, we don't say it. That's just how it works! It's a concept I think Latinos don't really understand because they are so outgoing and talkative. But I'll try and teach him. I'm actually teaching him some English so it's cool. There are some things you learn about missionary work with time. But we have had some great lessons. We had a super spiritual one with the father of some of the kids we are going to baptize this weekend. Last time I guess he wasn't receptive to the missionaries. But when we met with him, we taught the restoration and it was really good. We felt the spirit really strong. 

I love the picture you sent! It's awesome! like really good! And it's exactly how I used to feel as a middle child! Now I kinda like it. I kinda got away with a lot being the middle. But then I still got in trouble a lot. Like a lot! haha. 

I heard there are a few missionaries that cant get in to the country yet. But we are still getting a ton of missionaries. I can't tell if the number has fallen or not. I guess we will see soon! 

But that calender you sent me, I was thinking about it and realized it goes until June of 2016. Mom I'm going to be home before that! Do you realize that! That's insane! I didn't know if you realized that when you sent it or not. But now you do! No, none of my things got moldy in storage while I was on the island so we are okay! And no I'm not training and I kinda hope I won't. I know now I will, for saying that. But I guess we will just see. I will probably have a kid (younger missionary I help) in this area if anything. So I guess it will just be a wait and see kinda thing. But some of my molas, I'm still waiting on. I'll get them soon! I love you! Tell dad I love him!

Love Elder Adams