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 

36 - Christmas Party - At An Orphanage!

                      

                                   

                      

                         

                              

                                     

                           

                  

                         

Well mom. I’m emailing you from President Carmacks computer.  I’m going for subing points here! It’s subir-- ask dad. It’s what we use to say like moving from DL to ZL or to AP. 

First off this week was a little crazy. I’m getting changed to a new area. They called me and told me like the night before we came to the city. It sucks. I had a comp I loved, in a place I loved, with people I loved, and doing stuff I loved. And now I’m getting moved. I’m sure you can tell I’m a little bummed. We call it the mission curse. Every time things start going really good, it seems like we get changed.  I know I should have a good attitude about it, but it’s really hard right now, especially this close to Christmas. I was just hoping for a good first Christmas here in Panama, and it was going to work perfectly! But I’ll just have to figure something else out. 

But we came into Panama City for our Christmas party and chilled. We bought Little Cesar’s pizza. There is one in the city by the mission offices! Then we had the big party, which was super good. The party included some talks, going to an orphanage, and then eating bacon! The bacon was amazing! But then we took some pictures and had a good old time. We got oil vials and stuff from the president as a gift. I chose a gold one! You already heard all the stuff we did, going to the orphanage. We had Santa and elves and did a Nativity program for the children. It was fun.

Then we went to this little burger place. It’s run by Columbians and it’s sooooooooooooo dang good! It’s just a little cart. So we went there Saturday night. Then yesterday we went and spent the night at the home of the office elders. We went on another run to the burger place. It was good! But other than that we didn’t do much. This week has been okay I guess. I’m kinda down because of changes.  But now we are just kinda hanging out until we find out where I am going. 

But I got to see the First Presidency Christmas Devotional in English at the church building right next to the temple. It was super cool! It was a great devotional. I loved how they focused on love. Everyone needs a little bit ‘o love. Regardless of what they say. Oh and I met an awesome sister missionary that’s from Mexico! She is way cool! So that was a good high point for the weekend! 

I got the birthday box, but the secretary is going back to the mail today to see if anything else is ready to pick up. So I might be able to get the Christmas package today too. 

This letter is super short but there isn’t much to say. We’ve been busy with travel and meetings. But at the same time I’m kind of not in a good mood. But I’m trying to keep a good outlook on it. Hopefully I’ll get a good area with a good comp. So I’ll fill you in on everything next week. I love you.

35 - Thanksgiving!

 

First off, yes, we did have a grill out for Thanksgiving, with garlic bread, mashed potatoes and grilled pineapple! (thanks Mom for teaching me how to grill pineapple) And it turned out awesome! Probably best meal I’ve had in the mission that night! I have heard little stories about this awesome little party that was had at the Adams family Thanksgiving! But that’s cool, I’ve never been to Mesa Verde! So I bet that was kinda fun! And that’s kinda funny that you had Bryan and Bryan had the fam bam. But it sounds like fun! I miss going to Monticello, it’s so much fun! Especially all the food. That’s the good stuff. And 450 shells does sound like a pretty good time! Brooke told me that she got the first one with one shot, which I was pretty impressed with! I’m glad everything is going good, and it sounds like it was a pretty dang good week over there for you guys! And make sure to help BYU win at the bowl game!

Yes I can get batteries out here. But you are great about being vague with the things you send. I can’t think of something I get every year. I remember like iTunes cards and movies, but that’s about it! But yes, I’m going to be here on the island for the holidays. We are all going to the mainland (into Panama City) this weekend to go to the Christmas thing for the mission. And then me and my comp get to stay in the city a few extra days to buy some stuff for the islands, as food and such. So that’s gonna be fun! We wanted to go in and buy some extra stuff for Christmas and stuff so it works perfectly! I’m gonna send some pics from there because the internet on the island is way too slow to do it. But that’s awesome that you put something extra in there for my comp. He said last year he didn’t get anything from his family so it was kinda sad! But this year he most likely will.

But I’m like 95 percent sure I’m staying here at least till February. I really hope I’ll stay longer but I guess we will just see when the time comes. I’m stocking up on mola just in case! I’m getting one made for Austin, just so you know mom. It’s gonna be pretty cool! And I will try and get some good ones for you!

Yes, there is a rule on the island, no kids can be in the street after 8 o´clock so that is one thing, but it doesn’t affect us that much. We still teach English every Saturday. We have a few show up pretty consistently. And yes I do fall asleep to the sound of faint waves every night. No there hasn’t been storms. Well not enough rain storms to sustain water levels! It’s gonna be so hard after being here on the island. I’ll want to trap water and collect it and horde it! It could be a serious problem for me.

We had a good zone conference. It was my first one since I’ve been back in the country, 12 people total, and we just had fun! Yes mother, that is pure joy in that picture! Or completely losing your mind on an island, not sure which.

Now to my week, so this week was a little hectic. It was kinda weird, we had some lessons, nothing super special or memorable, just days of working hard. We had a good few days of work, but then we ran out of clothes. We had to spend a few hours washing clothes one day. So we couldn’t leave until the afternoon. So that kinda put a dent in the work time. But then Wednesday we had a good day, a ton of contacts. And then Thursday was a good day. We kind of just tried to find new investigators all day. Then Friday I got super sick, I felt like throwing up all morning. But then by about 4 I started to feel better so we left and got a little bit of work done. We only ended up with like 30 lessons, which is still really good but we could have done a lot better. The funny thing is as a companionship we don’t put many goals. With us it’s just more of go out, work our hardest and try to teach as many people as we can, we don’t worry so much about number of lessons. And it seems to work! So we are happy. But the workers are still here working on the church building. They are trying to finish everything today. We will see how that turns out. But we don’t have water, which kinda sucks. But we are gonna pay someone to go get it for us. So hopefully we will get some soon. But on Sunday we were doing the Sacrament, and the guys were here working. When the guy turned on the light, it popped and started smoking, so I turned it off. But the guy was just sitting in the back on his phone and didn't even notice! I was like dude your freaking light just blew up! It’s just different some times. I have learned in the mission that you are in control of yourself, not others. And you can’t blame others for the things that happen. 

But this was a pretty good week! Keep up the good work mommy! Love you!

Elder Adams