August 14, 2017 - Traveling Cross Country

What a week! This week was full of a ton of traveling cross country and having fun. Of course we have fun every week and I love it here but this week was one totally unexpected. So tuesday we had exchanges with some Elders in our district and we got a ton done here in the area. Not only that but I learned a ton about how we can work more efficiently and be better missionaries daily. The next morning we got up at 330 to travel across El Salvador to San Salvador where my companion had a doctors appointment but when we finally got there 5 hours later they said that the doctor came and left early for an emergency but he was going to be there the next day to see my companion. It would have been a huge waist of time to go back home and come back the next day so we made arrangements to stay in San Salvador and work there. I worked with Elder Junior again which was awesome to learn from him and yet again how I can be a better servant of our Heavenly Father. We were able to go to one of the nicest Pupusarias in the country which is on top of a huge mountian and is famous here. There are a few pics but you have to put all three together to get the full effect haha. Well the next day when we went to the doctor they pretty much said they couldnt do anything because the doctor wasnt specialized so we ended up going back to Berlin which seemed to be a waste of time but we really were able to profit from it. We both learned a ton from the areas and the Elders that we were working with that we have applied and we have had more success. The following day we had to travel back to Usulutan for a meeting too... We have been all over!

Well in the middle of all the random stuff that we did, I was able to learn from my leaders, my companion and most importantly from our Heavenly Father. I have learned in my mission that when we are humble and give up our pride of thinking we know everything and we can do it all ourselves, we not only better our lives but we are able to work more efficiently and change the lives of others too. Our Heavenly Father knows what we need and when we turn to him in humility we are able to be his investigators. 

Also during all the craziness we were able to find an amazing family here in Berlin. We havent been having huge days of finding but we were able to listen to the spirit and we were able to find a family that is super humble and willing to listen to the message of the restored gospel. I learned from them not to judge anyone and let everyone have the chance to listen. They are a young family with a toddler, the dad has earrings and they arent married but when we gave them the chance, we learned that they are very humble and love their Father in Heaven. I cant wait to see their progress.

I love you all and have an awesome week!

Love,

Elder Mark Daniel Adams

August 7, 2017 - Working in Berlin

This week has helped me in many ways. Since wee have been here in Berlin, we havent had too much success just starting up the missionary work here but I have learned to trust in out Heavenly Father and in His plan. So this week we have been mainly looking for new people to teach and working through member references but nothing seemed to stick. Not many people wanted us to come back and others had other excuses but one way or another they were not positive. Saturday we still didnt have many positive new people but of course we kept working. 

Sunday rolled around and the few people that did promise to go to church didnt show up. I started to have a bit of a struggle not knowing what to do or what we were doing wrong. Sunday after church we came home and durring our lunch time I started to read the scriptures and just had a comforting feeling and knew that I was here for a reason. After lunch we got back to work and we had the same problem again... then it started raining but nothing like rain at home, it was raining like I have never seen before. We continued to work and within a minute or two we found a family who let us in and we shared a message with them. From just the first lesson that we have with them, the seem to be a lot more positive then the others that we have been finding. Later in the day we went to visit some references with the president of the Relief Society and they also were positive and wanted us to come back. 

Well this week I learned that no matter how long we suffer or have trials, at the end, Heavenly Father will bless us. We only have a little bit of time with these trials but we are already starting to see the blessings. I also learned to look at every situation in a positive way. Like when we were walking around without success and then it started raining it really was a blessing. Because of that rain we were accepted into a house where we could bless the lives of that family and help them with their problems too. 

Well I am learning to trust in my Heavenly Father a little more daily. Sunday also we saw another little miracle that Heavenly Father put in front of us. It was fast sunday and we didnt have lunch to finish our fast. When we left the church I said jokingly to my companion, 'God will provide' like how Abraham said to Isaac. We got home and within a few minutes the neighbors who are members came over and asked if we had lunch. We already had dinner planned at their house but we ended up eating lunch and dinner with them. Heavenly Father truly does provide spiritually and temporally when we put our faith in Him. Have an awesome week.

Love,

Elder Mark Daniel Adams

PS yeah so theres a ton of pics from last week and this week

July 31, 2017 - Berlin

Wow what a week. So this week has been a week that I won't be able to forget. Like I said last time, I was going to get changed from my area but we didnt know where. I forgot to say that we had been in a trio with an Elder named Elder Ortiz because his companion Elder Togisala went home a week early. We found out later on Monday that Elder Ortiz was going to have transfers also so we had to go running around in the 2 areas getting things done, saying goodbye to people and preparing the area for Elder Laguna and his next companion. Of course saying bye to our converts, members, and investigators was not easy at all but like I said the last time, I could feel how much I have grown to love these people and how much of a family they are to me. I am so happy for this time I was in Usulután but I know I am needed here in Berlin. 

So our new area is a 360 turn around from Usulután. We went from one of the hottest areas in the mission now to the top of a mountain and the coldest area in our mission. Luckily I brought 1 sweater and 1 long sleeve shirt! Well along with all the change there hasn't been missionaries here for a few months so the area is pretty silent but we have been getting to work and starting the fire again here. Well I know I am here for a reason and I know that this is another challenge put in front of me so I can grow and learn to be more humble. 

Well like i was explainingI was in a trio with Elder Ortiz for a week and we got put here together to open Berlin! Well I am happy to still be in the same Zone and only about an hour in bus from my old area and so grateful for this challenge in front of me. I love you all and thank you all for the birthday wishes. I already got the best present today, after 5 days we finally got beds tables and a microwave! I am happy to not be sleeping on the floor anymore! Love you all!

Love,

Elder Mark Daniel Adams

July 24, 2017 - Taking on Two Areas

This week was a bit different for many resons. Elder Togisala left this week so we have been in a trio for more than half this week. We were also told that the area of Elder Togisala is going to be closed and we are going to take on the both areas which each one is bigger then our Stake. Well with all this change, I have learned a ton. Through the influence of the Holy Ghost we learn the lessons that our Father wants us to learn and apply in our lives. We as missionaries are thought to be teachers but really we are the investigators of our Heavenly Father during our studies and throughout our days. 

Sorry this is extremly short but just the news of this week, I am going to be leaving my area here in Usulutan which isnt very exciting because I am going to have to say goodbye to everyone but I am excited for some change and the oportunity I will have to be able to meet more people and help them come unto Christ. I Am excited to be able to grow my family here in El Salvador and I know that I will go where our Heavenly Father needs me. 

I love you all and have an awesome week. Ill send more pics next week!

Love,

Elder Mark Daniel Adams

July 17, 2017 - Healthy and Alive!

"Parley P. Pratt had served as a missionary for 25 years of almost constant labors. He had just returned from his latest mission in Chile. He was hopeful that he could now remain at home and enjoy his family, but such expectations were short lived. President Brigham Young called him to serve yet another mission- this time in the eastern states. One can imagine the feelings that must have swelled up in Parley's heart. Perhaps the thought, 'Haven't I given all that a mortal could be expected to give? Don't I deserve to spend some time with my family and friends? Can't I just relax for a while?... On September 7, 1856, shortly after learning of his call by Brigham Young, he offered the following tender reflections and prophetic insights: 'I have desired , after traveling for twenty-five or twenty-six years, mostly abroad, to stay at home and minister among the people of God, and take care of my family; but God's will be done, and not mine. If it is the will of God that I should spend my days in proclaiming the Gospel and bearing testimony of these things, I shall think myself highly privileged and honored. And when the spirit of God is upon me, I think it matters but very little what I suffer, what I sacrificed- whether I secure the honor or dishonor of men, or where I die, if it be that I can keep the faith, fight the good fight, and finish my course of joy. I have all eternity before me, in which to enjoy myself"

This week I was reading a talk which talks about as missionaries we need to sacrifice many things to become this missionary that changes lives. I really loved this talk because it was saying how we need to put these things on the altar of sacrifice. All the disobedience, fears, romantic passions, pride, negativism and sarcasm are all things that we need to give up to become this ideal servant of our Heavenly Father. Well these changes can also and need to be applied to all people especially members and their callings. If we want to be an amazing member who not only  completes but magnifies their callings we need to sacrifice a little bit of our pleasures and traits that drag us down. We always need to focus on our Father in Heaven and His kingdom on this earth. We can't have half of our heart, might mind, or strength focused on the work and the other half on some topic that is not eternal. Well I know it is a challenge to focus on our callings and still focus on the challenges of this life but when we put our Heavenly Father first and as we "seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" we have the promise of our Savior Jesus Christ that "all these things (that we need in our lives) shall be added unto you"(3 Nephi 13:33). Our Savior Jesus Christ promised that we will have the things we need when we focus on edifying the kingdom of God. These blessings may come in a day, in a week, in a year, in 10 years, and some might only come in our celestial glory, no matter when they will come, we need to stay strong and pushing forward "with an eye single to the glory if God". He loves us. He blesses us. He is our friend. 

Love,

Elder Mark Daniel Adams

P.S. Im healthy and alive!

July 10, 2017 - Heaven Sent Miracles

Well this week was awesome! I am pretty sure I left a lot out in the last weeks email, we were very short on time, but I hope you all got the story and the blessings that happened to us. Well this week we have seen these blessings grow and grow. 

This week was highlighted with the baptisms of the familia Rodriguez, who I talked about last week. Well we visited them all week and were preparing and preparing again for their baptisms. The mom, Xiomara, has always been on the edge about religion and not wanting much. The first time that she came to church, her husband told us that he had been trying to get her to go to other churches with him and praying for her to go for years and she had never wanted to go. When he told her that he was going to go to church and invited her this time, she seemed a bit more animated and willing to go. Everyone has their time to hear the message of the Restored Gospel and her time was up. That was one of many miracles that we have seen in the conversion of the family. 

Well even up until the baptism she was a little on the edge, half joking with us and half really not knowing what to do. The day of the baptism they showed up with white clothes in hand, but Hermana Xiomara didn't have anything. She told us that she didn't want to get baptised that day and it wasn't her time. We were in a bit of shock and we didn't have a clue what to do. We talked to her for a while and she eventually said that she was just kidding and she had her white clothes in her purse. We were and still are so glad that she decided to be baptised with her family and chose to enter into the path of the Lord. 

Well just one last thing that happened with the baptsim, they planned it at 9am and at that time usually no one shows up. We waited and waited and after about 30 minutes we had a grand total of 4 missionaries and 2 members. We couldn't wait any longer so we went to get changed and when we came back out, the room was filled with people standing because there wasn't enough room. We were amazed at the turn out and excited for the awesome baptisimal service that was held. 

Well I know that each and every one of these little miracles that we saw were heaven sent. There is no other way that we could have changed the heart of someone or have seen any of these other things without the power of heaven. My testimony is strengthened daily from the little and giant miracles that wesee daily. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and Protects us. There is not a doubt in my mind about the power of our Heavenly Father or His willingness to bless us. I love this Gospel and I love being a missionary, a servant of our Heavenly Father, and an instrument in His hands. I hope we can all continue to look for the little blessings that we often forget about. I love you all and am always praying for you. 

Love,

Elder Mark Daniel Adams

Ps today we are going to famiia Rodriguez's and we are having a party and barbeque it should be awesome! Ill send the pics next week!

July 3, 2017 - Another Good One

This week has been another good one! I feel like I start off all my letters like that but it is always true, we always are having good weeks! This week we have been working hard and seeing miracles daily. This week we were focsed in the Rodriguez family who we have been working with for about a month and a little. They are a family of 4 who are awesome. They were a reference from the Bishop which was a huge blessing to us and this area. They pretty much knew all the basic principles of the Gospel before we started teaching them, the Bishop has been a huge help to us and their conversions. More than anything we have focused on the father of the family named Heriberto. From the very first lesson until now he has been one of our most positive investigators. The first time we talked about bapism he told us "of course I want to get baptised but I have another goal in mind, to get sealed to my family". I know that says it all but just to let you know I haven't met another person here that has heard about dealings. 

Well we have been studying a ton to answer all the questions and the few doubts that they have had to our best abilities. I have learned a ton from them and through my studies just for them. Well this week we have been preparing the 3 that are old enough for their baptismal date on the 8th of this month. The mom Xiomara has always had a few big doubts but really wants to grow closer to our Heavenly Father. She has been a bit closed off to baptism because she wants to learn more and have a little more time in the church. She has not been opposed to her husband and her daughter getting baptised but she just wanted her time. Well this week we saw a huge miracle with them as a family. The Bishops son recommended that we watched a video called "Together Forever" with them. I didn't have much faith in this video but we shared it with them on saturday. By the end, I looked over to the both of them and they were crying. It shows about the importance of the Plan of Salvation and how families can be eternal. 

Just yesterday we had their baptisimal interviews and Hermana Xiomara said that she wants to be baptised with the rest of her family! This saturday we will have a few awesome baptisms that I am really excited for! Well I hope this made sense we have like 30 minutes to write today but I love you all and I love my mission!

Love,

Elder Mark Daniel Adams