Monday, July 23, 2018

July 23, 2018 - Big Cottonwood Stake

I have been doing terrible with all my emails. It's time I reported on some stuff!
So first off, the 4th of July, we went on exchanges, so I was in South Salt Lake, on a bike all day. We biked everywhere, and talked to every person that was outside, for like 9 hours straight. We stopped twice, to eat some food, but the rest of the time we were sharing with others the good news of Christ's restored gospel, and how this is the Promised land. People loved it! 
Here in Holladay it is quite the same. We work as hard as we can, talk to every person we see, and try to help each individual claim the blessings of eternal life and the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Some of the people (specifically those whose houses are bigger than church buildings) don't want to hear a thing. Others, those in the rest of our area, are so willing to accept this message from God. We will randomly stop and help people all the time. One lady didn't want to talk, she told us to leave, so we started cleaning up the things she was trying to clean. Her heart softened so much, and it was great to see the Spirit touch her, and help her feel God's love. 
A miracle we saw was with a man named Todd. Many people in Utah have lived here very long, and supposedly "know all about the church", and have talked to missionaries "hundreds of times". Well, that may be the case for some, but not everyone. Todd was out in his yard, so we stopped to talk, and we actually thought he was a member. Nope, he just has lived here 38 years, takes clients to tour Temple Square, but has never had missionaries in his home to present the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So we did. It was so powerful, and he committed to read from the Book of Mormon and pray about it. We are excited for our follow up date. 
So yes, that is what is going on. We have 2 people preparing for baptism this week, more to follow, and this is the best thing I have ever done in my life! 
Also, my bike I had was starting to die on me. It actually wrecked itself twice. So we went to get it checked out, and with the grinded gears, broken chain, broken brakes, and snapped frame, I decided to buy a new bike. It is great because now we are able to up the speed of the Lord's work even more. 
We see miracles every day. I love serving these people and the Lord! 
I love you all!
Love, 
Elder Adams
p.s. picture of me and my new bike. Also, for Pioneer day, one ward held sacrament meeting outside, everyone dressed in Pioneer clothes. Then, Tuesday we will have a huge breakfast and fireworks all day!



Monday, July 16, 2018

July 16, 2018 - Big Cottonwood Stake

Dad! I love you!
I am in the Big Cottonwood Stake, right next to my first area. My neighbor is Mitt Romney. No kidding. I am with Elder Johnson, he and I actually roomed at the MTC together! So it is super neat to be back together again. And we are the Holladay Zone Leaders. It is super awesome! We have a car, which we really only use for meetings and helping people, the rest of the time we bike, and talk to literally every person we see! We have 2 on date for baptism right now and like 8 more soon to be on date. It is an exploding area!
Time is flying; I can't believe it's almost halfway over. This year has been great. And yes it's downhill from here, but I'm not coasting... 😎 But I will pace myself and not sprint too fast yet... I love the idea to write down my thoughts and reflections of the year, I will do that on the 19th.  I love the statement you made (dad) that it doesn’t necessarily mean to work harder, but to work smarter.
Anyways, we are doing a great work. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is Christ church on the earth. I want all to come unto Him and be baptized for a remission of sins so they can live with their families forever. 
So good to hear that Nauvoo was great! It looks beautiful, and I love you all! We will for sure go again! I love that you (mom) shared your BOM reading experience with us. I love your testimony. I know it is true! 
I love you Mom! It was great to hear from you! I'll keep working hard! So many people to save! 
I love you all! 
Elder Adams! 

July 19, 2018: Note from Sister Holli Adams in Brazil to Elder Clayton Adams in Utah:
No way, 1 year?? Wow Elder Adams! That´s pretty awesome!! Keep working hard, I love you!! <3 :)  - Sister Adams :)

Sunday, July 8, 2018

July Updates -Salt Lake City Mission

July 2nd, 2018: Well this week has been great. Loads of diligence, and that is about it. Everyday was pretty typical, just work, work and work. We had some wonderful opportunities to teach people about the restored gospel, and it was great. We spent a lot of time following the Spirit in each lesson, which lead to great and inspired questions and statements. We shared with many people the Savior's own words found in the Book of Mormon, especially such verses as 3Nephi 11:33-34 and 2 Nephi 31:15-16. It was a great experience to testify powerfully and feel the Spirit bear witness to these people of the truth. This week, I deepened my conversion through fulfilling my purpose and teaching repentance, and look forward to baptizing converts!
Well, that's it, we don't even have any pictures! I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Exciting things ahead! 
Elder Adams
July 9th, 2018: Sounds like you are all up to lots of fun. What a great week it has been, and what a great week it will be. Have a great time in Nauvoo!
This week has been amazing for me as well! We worked so hard I actually got a cold! It was crazy. Transfers are tomorrow, and I am off to a new area! I find out tonight where! It will be great! 
That's pretty much it! Short on time so quick email!
Love you! 
Elder Adams 
Pic- ensign peak hike


Wednesday, June 27, 2018

June 25, 2018 - South SLC

So this week has been great. We biked to temple square on last Monday with our zone leaders. That was super fun. From the stake center to the temple is 3 miles, plus we started at our apartment, so it was 6 miles. I attached some photos of the adventure. It was really fun!

We had pizza twice this week, and knocked over 1000 doors. We had interviews with President Hillier, it was super great to talk with him. 

We also had lots of highs and lows this week. For example, we had lots of people lined up to teach, but we couldn't get translators, and because of that, some of them fell off. But the high this week was Paul Lu's baptism! He is a great kid, who I have known and worked with the entire time I have been here. He was not sure he wanted to get baptized because he wanted to do the right thing, and finally he decided to take a step of faith and be baptized. It was amazing to see him be baptized by his good friend, and then receive the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. He was so happy!

Well, that is the week. Loads of fun exciting things! An organization put on a world refugee day(they are done all over the country) and we were able to attend a little to find some people to teach. It was super awesome! 
Here are some pictures: (Paul lu is the boy next to me)
         
 
                      

June 18, 2018 - South SLC

So this week was absolutely incredible!!!!!! There were so many highlights, I don't even know where to begin! 

So the biggest miracle was all the people we had at church. We have been trying for months to get a group of 17 people to church. 5 of them are good, they have been a few times, but the other 12 wouldn't come. So we have tried so hard to get them, we got the head guy for 2 weeks, then he got a job, and couldn't come to church this week. So we decided to stop by and see who else we could bring, and all of the sudden, we had every single girl(except one)in the whole group of 17 come. There was 8 of them! We had no idea what was going on, so we had to call a translator fast, and then get them a ride! This led to some other very spiritual experiences for some of the members to help these people out. I am so grateful to the Lord for His Goodness in allowing us to see His hand manifest. 

Another great part of the week was all the work we did. We had some great lessons, and absolutely taught with and by the Spirit, but the best part was the 6 apartment complexes we tracted all the way through. It was incredible to testify to so many people of their loving Heavenly Father, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to do this incredible work.
I love this so much! 

Love you all!
Elder Adams

P.s. We also had our mission tour, and Elder Brian Taylor of the Seventy came to speak with us. It was super awesome!!!!! I learned so much, and we have just attacked the work! 

Monday, June 4, 2018

June 4, 2018 - South SLC

This week has been unbelievable. Lots of miracles happened, we had tons of people come to church for the first time, and it was excellent. I had taco stand tacos twice. They were good. We also had some wonderful lessons, it is amazing to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ working in people's lives, helping them to change.

So Sunday we had a very special day. Elder Gerrit W Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, visited our church meeting. It was very special. He spoke with Elder Mulcahy and I for a few minutes afterwards, and gave us some counsel and encouragement. Attached is a picture of us. 

I did get to watch the "Be One" celebration, not live, and the Youth Worldwide Devotional live. They were both super awesome! I hope that Carson, Cody and Heidi are all following the 5 things that President Nelson invited them to do. 

A great experience from the week: Elder Mulcahy and I have covered a lot of ground looking for Burmese people. We look everywhere in the valley. We tried a new area, the Greater Avenues, just northeast of Temple Square, for a couple of hours on Wednesday. We were blessed to be in the exact right spots at the exact right times to bless not only many Burmese peoples live's, but also many other meek and humble children of God. Like you (Dad) told me before the mission, because of my badge, people will open up and tell me their life story, which is always crazy, but to be able to testify of the Savior, His Atonement, and the power of the Book of Mormon is incredible. It is such a blessing to serve!

A busy week of lots done, with lots more to do for God's children! I love serving a mission so much! It has been the greatest thing in my life! 
I love you all! 
Elder Adams



Monday, May 28, 2018

May 28, 2018 - South SLC


This week has been stellar! We had 2 baptisms, plus a miracle for the sisters to have a baptism, too. NM got baptized on Thursday, and NMeh got baptized on Saturday. It was wonderful, they were both so happy.
Transfers are in; Elder Mulcahy and I are staying together. This will be a great chance to baptize and teach and serve many more people!

That's about it, lots of hard work, and we will keep working harder! 
Elder Adams