May 29, 2017 - The Book is True!

Fam,

The weeks are already getting faster and faster. I don't have a clue how it is monday and I'm back. Well this week was another good one down. This week a couple things that were awesome happened. Just an average week in the life of a missionary. Well first off I had the opportunity to work with the man Elder Togisala for a day and I learned ton from him and he said that he learned from me but i doubt it. Well besides being Steven and Nacho eating elotes locos (corn on a stick) we had some awesome lessons and really felt the spirit very strong. He has been an awesome leader and its going to be sad when he leaves us. The work will go on. Another experience that we had was one lesson in specific with an investigator named Jose. Yes we do have mulitple Joses but this one was a special lesson. So we have been working with him since conference and he has been coming along slowly but surely. He is the nephew of a long time member and she just now decided to bring him along to conference in Abril. From thhe way I desciribed it he sounds like a little kid but although he does act like a little kid he is like 40 something ears old. Well he has been reading and praying but he didn't want to give up coffee for the longest time. Once he got to about 3 weeks he drank coffee again so we kep having to push his baptisimal date back. Well this lesson I asked him why he wanted to get baptised. He had a short answer but a powerful one. He said, "Because it is a commandment and I want to follow Jesus Christ."That reminded me that we are here every day to follow Christ. We are here to be His servants and do what is right. I have seen a big change in Jose and I am proud to say that he is getting baptised this upcoming weekend. 

The last little thing that happened this week was probably one of the most important ones. So this week for the first time in my mission I finished The Book of Mormon. I know it took me a while but after almost 8 months I finished. All I can say is wow, how can that book not be true. Along with the spirit that confirms the divinity of that book how could a young boy with almost no education come up with that big of a lie, write a book with no errors, and be willing to give his life for it. I have been pondering and praying about The Book of Mormon for a reforcing answer that the book is of God and none else. Right after finishing the last word, I knelt down and asked my Heavenly Father yet again if The Book is the truth. I didn't get an automatic response but I did get the same answer again. I know that The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. He did show Himself to the Americas. He did call prophets to guide the people here. He did guide and bless these people also. The only thing that I can say is to read it. Not only read it but put into practice what Moroni 10:3-5 says and read, ponder, and pray to recieve your own answer. I can say all I want but it is nothing like you coming to know for yourself that it is true, it is scripture and, it is life changing. I hope we can all find the truth and light in this life. We have it sitting in our hands and all we have to do is read it!

I love you all! I love this work. I love my mission. I love El Salvador and the people here. And most importantly I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Have and awesome week!

Love,

Elder Mark Daniel Adams

May 22, 2017 - Blessings of Faith

Fam,

Well we are back here sitting in a little sketchy internet "cyber" writing again. Well this week has flown by. It was a crazy week all over the place but awesome at the same time. We found some new investigators and finally got the spark with a few of our other investigators.

Well last week I talked a little bit about going to this one place "Transito" and not having success at all. Well this week we focused all of our lessons on going to church and how important the assistance at Sacrament Meeting is. We also made plans and verified every time we passed by for Sunday. Once again we went bright and early on our bus ride to go pick up some people. First house no one, second house 1 member, 3 house no one. I started to get a little bit down and started to think that it was going to be another day just like last Sunday. Well we went to the last house where we had planned to pick up a sister and her 2 daughters. Well when we got there, those 3 and 2 of their cousins who live there too were ready and waiting for us. We got to church with our 5 investigators from Transito and saw 6 more of our investigators already there and a member with her friend. This was the biggest jump that I have seen in my mission so far. We had 2 investigators last week and this week 11 and a future investigator. I know that this was a God sent miracle and nothing else. I Know that my faith was tried last week and this week we were blessed for continuing to work with our heads up. One thing that we explain to people is the things that happen before a miracle. Many people say that seeing a miracle would bring them faith and they would believe. Well we explain that before we must have that faith, have it tested, and lastly the miracle. It never goes in the opposite direction. Miracles do not create faith. Just like in the scriptures, before Jesus would heal or raise from the dead, he would always ask if they had faith. Faith brings miracles! I know that last week was that trial of faith and now we saw a huge miracle. My testimony and faith have grown immensely. I can now say with a certainty that this Church is the only true church on the face of this world. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who only wants to bless us. I know that He also has a plan for each and everyone of us. We might not be able to see or understand the things that are happening in our day to day lives but they all are for our benefit. I hope we can all put our faith in practice and look for all the little miracles that come from our trials. 

On a little more funny note, last week, I was talking with Mom about giving talks. I told her that I have had the "luck" to have not been called on to give talks and how the other Elders have. Well when we walked through the Chapel doors a little late with our investigators, we heard "after that we will hear from the companionship of Elder Adams and Elder de Leon. Not only was I called on to give a talk but unadvised and totally off guard. Well it all worked out fine and I didn't make too many grammatical errors haha. Well I love you all and keep looking for those miracles through our trials of faith! Have an awesome week! For the last time...

Love,

Elder Adams Jr

P.S. Kevin you are the man! You are a huge role model to me and I know that you served an awesome mission. I will always look up to you as a brother and an example. I hope I can be a fraction of the Elder that you were and will continue to be back at home. Its going to be weird not being Jr. anymore but i will continue to try to be like my older brothers and everything that you have done!

P.S.S. Just trying to be a little more like Grandpa Brown and kiss that snake.

May 15, 2017 - Faith

Hey Fam,

Well I just talked you you yesterday so this will be a short one. First off happy mothers day to all those moms out there especially my mom. youre the best mom I love you! Well I just wanted to share a quick faith promoting experience that we had just yesterday. So our area covers a little pueblo called transito that is about 30 minutes by bus to get there. We normally have a memeber that is able to bring everyone from this area to the church in his pickup but this week his truck was in the shop. Saturday night I called all of our investigators from that area to see if we could pass by in the morning and go with them in bus to church. Well it ended up that none of them answered because it was a little late at night but, I felt the strong impression that we still needed to go. 

Sunday morning we woke up bright and early and headed off to pick up some of these investigators. We passed by for multiple people and everyone either had their excuse or were sleeping or something like that. We came back for church without anyone from this pueblo. I was really thinking about why I had that impression to go if no one was going to come with us. I know that it was a trial of my faith in following the spirit in all circumstances no matter the outcome. I was a little bummed about the turnout but then once I realized this, I became happy. I know that maybe we only had 2 investigators at church but the reason for that was not our fault. We did everything in our power to get them to church and they have their free agency. well I have learned to trust in our Heavenly Father and everything he has planned for us. If I am going to fail, it will not be because I did not try! Have an awesome week!

Love,

Elder Adams Jr.

May 8, 2017 - True Leadership

This week I have had the opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a leader and what it means to be a follower. When I first think about the importance of each part, my mind automatically jumps to the conclusion that need to be a "leader" and guide everyone else. I think about all the things that are necessary for a leader and what they had to do to recieve that reward. I often think that this leadership role is a position that is given according to personal success. On the football and lacrosse team, usually the best players are the team captians and also in businesses and other team like situations it is often the people with the most experience and most success that are chosen to lead the rest. A leader is known as a person chosen to have this role to guide and help others to succeed. Often times people loose the real importance of this role and think of a leader as one who tells people what to do and gets people in trouble, as an act of exercising power.

The other part of this "team" who doesn't have this title is often known as a follower. What is a follower? A follower is " a normal person" of this team to who goes along with the things that the leaders say. Most often the followers don't put in much imput or change circumstances. These followers aren't often noticesd for their efforts and their obedience to their leaders. They are seen as people who weren't good enough to be a leader or the best.

Often in society we have these crazy thoughts about the leader/follower relationship. I have come to learn here that these few steriotypes mean absolutly nothing. Sure a leader might have a little more say than a follower BUT that does not mean that we all can't be leaders by ourselves. We all have the oportunity to set the example by always doing what is right and always working our hardest. No matter the calling or title, we have been given our free agency that we can use to inspire, help, animate, and lead everyone. Now with the followers, this common thought of being a follower as someone who does not care or opinionless is absolutly incorrect. We all know that Jesus Christ was and is our perfect example. We have the amazing blessing to FOLLOW the best and most perfect life that this world has ever seen. When we learn from the things that He did and we apply them in our lives, we will come closer to God, be happier, and have the guidance of the spirit every minute of every day. Those are surely things that I would like in my life. I am doing my best every day to follow Christ to better my life and the lives around me. How careless would we be if we wern't followers! I hope we can all be leaders no matter what role we have been given. Always lead by example and strive to do what is right. We can and will be the best leaders when we are the best followers, followers of Christ. 

So just another little scripture that my companion, Elder de Leon, shared with me in the Bible, in the book of 1st John 4:18. It says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." You all know how at times I can be a little shy... So this scripture helped me get over that fear of talking to strangers, in a foreign language, and possibly getting rejected. I have come to learn that if I have a true love for these people, we will not have fear to talk to them, we will not have fear of rejection or of the language. I know that this message of happiness can and will help their lives in so many ways. It is my calling and duty to bring these people this message, this happiness, and this light to their lives. We all have this calling to share the gospel. I know that it can be scary that a friend might say no or they will think different about you if you try to share the gospel with them but the question really is, do you love them? I encourage you all to show this love you have for them by sharing this wonderful blessing that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with. We have been blessed to know this gospel and see its blessings, now it is time to help others feel that same thing! 

I love you all and I hope you all can try a little harder to be a better leader and follower. I definatly am trying my best and I can see these blessings being poured out over us daily. I love you all, I am praying for you. Have an awesome week!

Love,

Elder Adams Jr.

P.S. sorry for writing a ton this week I had a ton on my mind haha. And with pics just a few playing soccer with some kids we taught and with some other elders too.

P.S.S. Happy Birthday Drake! Youre the man

P.S.S.S. Elder Togisala, our new district leader is exactly like Sterling Hofman it is super funny.

May 1, 2017 - Important and Eternal

Wow it feels like I was just writing yesterday. Well this week was another good week here in Usulután. We have had some awesome lessons and a sweet outcome at the church. All of my time we have been happy to have 4 investigators at the church... yesterday we had 7 show up and 3 of them for the first time. I know that our Heavenly Father is helping and blessing us in so many ways. 

So this week I learned a lesson that changed my thinking process and the way I teach also. So before we had always taught the Plan of Salvation but it wasn't one of the top priorities. We always taught the few lessons that people need to pass the Baptisimal interview and put other things on the back burner. So this week we taught a ton of The Plan of Salvation and focused a ton on the things that we need to do in this life or, our purpose in this life. Once we started teaching this a little bit more and not focusing as much on the other things, we started to see people really gaining a testimony and not just a knowledge of the baptisimal questions. I know that The Plan of Salvation is perfect and that only through the blood and mercy of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, it can be fufilled. When we focus on the things that really matter in this life and not on the things that seem to be important, people really change and actually grow to progress in this gospel. Like it says in 3rd Nephi, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." When we focus on the things that are important and eternal, all the other pieces will fall into place. I have no doubt about it. I hope we can all realize how important and perfect this plan is for us and every single one of our Heavenly Father's children. I encourage each and every one of you to apply the teachings and good tidings that The Plan of Salvation brings ourlives AND bless others to know that we are here for a reason and we have a loving Heavenly Father. I love you all and I love this work. I love my  mission and I love my Heavenly Father. You're all in my prayers!

Love,

Elder Adams Jr.

April 24, 2017 - New Area

So this week was a bit of a crazy one. Well a week ago on monday we got a call saying that Elder Pacajá had emargency changes but he was just going to aother area here in Usulután. Well of course right when we were getting into the swing of things everything gets changed around. Well I am on companion #4 in the feild now and 3 of them are from Guatemala. The new comp is named Elder de Leon and we are working good together. This week has been one of the most successful weeks I have had here in Usulután and it has been awesome. Well from this change that we had, I learned that our Heavenly Father is always giving us chhallenges to grow. I have had to change my teachings and adapt to new companions but now I am capable of teaching in different ways that might help a certian investigator more than another way. As it says in Ether, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselces before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." We are always given trials to grow. It is hard at times to always see the benifit of the hard times that we have, but when we can come to this realization, "I will make weak things become strong unto them." 

Well I'm sorry  because I say this almost everytime but the time is short. Sorry for the short letter but I love you all! Keep looking for missionary opportunitites and the chance to change someones life... its worth it... you got nothing to loose. 

Love,

Elder Adams Jr.

April 17, 2017 - Semana Santa

Family,

So yesterday being Easter or as they call it here, "Resurrection Sunday", the last day of "Holy Week", I have had a lot to think about and study. What did Jesus really do for us? I think at times we become a little forgetful and we don't remember what He really did. I have thought about this a ton throughout my mission and especially in this time of the year. He suffered every single pain, affliction, trial, hard time, hurt feeling, stubbed toe, and sad moment in our lives (Mosiah 3:7). I know that no man would be able to suffer anything near the amount that He did. The most amazing part was, it was His free will, He still had His agency to back out or to follow through out of love. Well I was reading in Luke the part when Jesus is teaching His disciples the Sacrament and He is talking to his disciple Simon. In Luke 22:33 Simon responds, "And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death." This verse really made me think. Am I a true disciple of Christ? Am I willing to stand next to Christ and go through what He did for us? I know that it would be extremely hard but I hope that we all can answer yes. Just a thought that I had during my studies. I hope this Easter you all had the opportunity to reflect on the part that is most important, our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

So this week was another awesome one highlighted with a trip to the temple. We went all as a mission to the temple with all our investigators, less actives, recent converts, and members. We weren't supposed to go in this time because we were with our investigators but pretty much the night before we got a call saying we were going to be able to enter. Well, this opportunity to go in was awesome. I could feel the presence of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. I was reminded of the blessings that we can recieve when we are obedient and faithful to the covenants that we have made. I am so grateful to be able to have the blessing of the temple in my life. I know that only through the temple and the power of the Holy Priesthood we can live together forever as families. 

So the cool story of the week... for those of you who don't know, my Uncle Dean served his mission here in El Salvador about 39 years ago. Well this week we had our Stake conference and I was sitting with Elder Pacajá before one of the sessions and I saw some guy looking at me. After a little bit he came up to us and asked if I was Elder Adams. We talked for a bit and he told me thaat Uncle Dean baptised him 39 years ago and how grateful he is for the Gospel in his life to this day. He even pulled 2 little wallet sized pictures out of his shirt pocket of Uncle Dean. Thought you would all enjoy. What a small world and I'm super stoked to be able to say I met him. Faithful and strong, just how each and every one of us needs to be.

Love,

Elder Adams

P.S. Sorry for no pics this week I had some camera problems but this week we will get back on it!