74 - Just Do Your Best

 

Mom. First off, when there is a stupid Subaru that wants to race you in the car, you always go for it! You know you can win that! And I love to see their faces when they get smoked by an SUV! But I'm glad things went well with the move. It's good to hear that everyone was willing to help. I'm glad no one died too! And I'm glad you have a good outlook on this! Things will work out! I'm sure of that! 

My comp got sick for a few days this week so that kinda stunk. But things are going good now! Today we got to go to Price Smart or Costco in America. I got some gatorade, so that was cool! My comp bought a camera so it was pretty good! We got some good stuff! But things are going okay. We are trying our best to find new people to teach. There aren't many that want to listen. But when we find some, we will take advantage of it! This week I studied Mosiah 17-20 and it was really good. I was reading about the brothers of Mosiah and about everything they went through. It was cool they said every single time, that they just had a little hope that they could at least change 1 persons heart. They didn't worry about how many people they changed, just that they did their best. They were given thousands of people to teach because they understood the real reason. They were ready to do what was needed to get it done. So yeah! That was good! 

There was a party Saturday for a girl in the ward that is moving to Utah to get married. It was cool! There was food, and more food! And all that jazz. But I have some great ideas for when you guys come. Speaking of, are you okay with spending a decent amount of money? Or are you not wanting to spend much? Just wondering!

We haven't had many lessons this week. It was mainly less actives but things are going good. But me and my companion are staying together for another transfer, so that's good. 

 

But I hope you have a good week and can get caught up on all that work! I love you. I hope things go well!

61 - A Week of Walking

haha R.L. is so dang cute! It is crazy that she is getting baptized! I thought she was younger than that. But I guess a year and a few months away from home can do that! Make sure that you give her a big hug for me! And tell her I miss her and I’m proud of her!

But things are going good here. We are planning on having another baptism this weekend.

Answering questions, no I’m not having spinning feelings anymore. The stress level is down now so that’s why. Right now I’m studying in Matthew chapter 11 and 3 Nephi 19. It’s going pretty good! We are also studying chapter 5 of Preach My Gospel.

This last week was a little different. We did a lot of walking! We went to a place called Jaramillo Centro, and it was like an hour walk one way. But we found a family up there that knows the recent convert M., so we are going to try and have him go teach with us. Finding people is actually really hard out here but we are trying our hardest. We are planning on having another baptism this weekend. But things are good! Me and my comp are getting along really well!

This week I had a really cool lesson. We have been teaching L. about the temple and more about the priesthood, and it is going great! He is really, really excited! He really wants to go do baptisms at the temple. He has had a real change, and it is something you can see! He has had the change of heart that it talks about in the scriptures. It’s awesome! I’m so happy for him! And I’m happy that I could help him change his life.

It is sad about Grandma Pearl. I hope it will go quick for her.

Other than that tell dad when I get back, I’m ready to change his way of thinking of cars. I’m ready to help him change ;) haha no I’m just kidding. But I’m glad you guys are doing good.

I love you mom! I know it’s not the same without me! But Ii will be home sooner than you can say hot grilled spam! haha

32 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAKE!

First off I don’t get why everyone is making such a big deal about 20! Yeah it’s not a teenager anymore but still! It’s not that big of a deal! But don’t worry. We are going over to a member’s house to have a birthday dinner. And you guys can eat all the cake you want! It doesn’t bother me at all! Eat multiple cakes and go to California Pizza Kitchen if you want! Enjoy it for me! 

Me and Elder Murray were never comps and we never lived together. He was just in my zone back in Arraijan. We have a ton in common! Back home in Sacramento he has a 66 Mustang and we talk about cars a lot. We both play guitar and we are just a lot alike. So I’m glad I get to spend Christmas with someone that I enjoy hanging out with. Speaking of, we might get to go into the city for the mission Christmas party! So keep that one in the prayers! haha just kidding! But my comp and I actually teach great together. We have had some really good lessons so far and we are trying to find investigators. We put a list on the board of some tasks we have including names or descriptions of some people we want to teach. But being DL is kinda cool I guess. I just take numbers and talk a lot. It’s not too much but it’s still fun. There are two companionships of hermanas in my district so not really many people but it’s still fun. 

I’m glad I got just a little bit of drama with Booga. Now I know how to handle stuff like that! haha But the hermanas in my district aren’t very dramatic so I’m glad for that. And Elder Murray has the special assignment. He is in the district presidency or branch presidency or something like that. But there’s only ever 1 DL in a companionship.

That’s so awesome about Abbi cheering! That little cutie! And good job Brays! And Emmry is a lover! I remember over the summer when she would get mad or sad, I would go into her room and we would lay on her bed and watch tv. We actually became pretty good buddies this last year and a half or so. She’s a cutie.

But studies are going good. There is always more to learn. It would be harder for you to study like in depth study. I have all morning for that and then it just kinda keeps rolling. But your studying is on a time limit. But this week I was kinda all over the place. I was studying faith and how it affects our lives. About how our own faith can change our life course and how a lack of faith can be a huge thing. Like certain friends I have. A lack of faith can take you from a good place to a really, really bad place you never wanted to be in a real hurry. And how to make big changes like Alma the younger and Enos. They started with just a little bit of faith. Like Enos just says he knew his father was a just man but he didn’t know anything else. He used that little bit of faith that he knew, and it turned him into a great man. So even though lack of faith can be seen as weak, it could be made into the biggest strength you have if you know how to work for it. 

Then I started reading some parables like the prodigal son and the 10 virgins. I’m just trying to find more ways to apply the stories into the lives of the people I am teaching and trying to simplify them so people can understand. Like this week we had some family home evenings and we taught Matthew 25 verses 1 to 13. It’s the 10 virgins and we went through it and explained what the olive meant, what the lamps meant, and how we need to always be ready for when Jesus comes because no one knows exactly when. And just so you know, in Spanish it actually says boyfriend instead of bridegroom. So that was kinda funny to me. But we taught that the other night to a family. One kid is a less active, and then his sister and aunt are active members. But we taught the parable and talked about it a bit. To every question I had, this little girl who is like 5, she had an answer. Sometimes I had to whisper it into her ear, but she almost always had the answer. She is so dang cute! But she just came over and sat on my lap and we were just kinda chillin the whole time. It actually turned out really good. The aunt told us how her husband was a less active, and then he served a mission, she got baptized and they got married and all this stuff. So it was a super cool experience. 

But we did find our bag on the boat. Most of the food was still in it. But yes my suitcases are okay in the house of the assistants back on the mainland. I locked them up before I came to the island. So they will be fine! I’m glad Dolores is feeling better. Pass along this message to her for me please ( Espero que estas bien. y tambien te extraño mucho. estas un mujer especial. estoy tan agradecido que tu puedes estar en este familia. debes saber que te amamos mucho) She is such a sweet lady. Grandpa is way too lucky to have her. And tell dad to get his butt in gear to get my contacts. Tell him he needs to go missionary mode and write down a schedule and keep it on him all day. And write everything down right when it is said. He probably won’t, but it would help a lot! Planning is a huge thing in the mission. 

I sent you a picture of our makeshift grill. It’s pretty awesome. It’s made by yours truly! I took a shelf from an old fridge, some tin foil, a little fire, and some wood to make it. Our neighbors were like what are you doing with that food? So I guess they don’t understand the amazingness that is grilling! And it was some of the best chicken I think I have ever had. It was straight up good! We are planning on having another one tonight for my birthday so it’s pretty exciting! But I love you. Hope you have a good week! 

Love, Elder Jakey Adams