Elder Adams Goes to Mexico: September 2015

Sunday, September 20, 2015

September 14, 2015

Wow, this week was incredible. First things first, I got really sad this week. I was reading through my journal and found in my first change in Mexico a phrase that I had written after listening to "come thou fount" I wrote a line from that song but changed the lyrics just a little. I wrote "Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it, seal it for these next 2 years". I can’t believe that "these next 2 years" ends in 8 weeks.... I have fought a lot trying not to believe it but its really real Isn’t it? I was thinking about a question that Elder McCubbins asked me a few changes back, he asked me "Elder Adams if President called you and told you that your mission was ending tomorrow would you be able to say that you are proud of what you did that you served an HONORABLE mission"? The answer then and now is yes! I feel so good that I can say that I have given it my all to Heavenly Father in these last 2 years. I still have 8 weeks left, and I also haven’t been perfect in my mission, I have made plenty of mistakes but I can say that I have worked hard. I have given my all to my mission and have reaped the treasures that Heavenly Father has had in store for me. I love my mission, but more than anything I love what my mission has made me. I don’t want to change, I will still be the same Taylor from before the mission, with the same hobbies and loves, but with a different perspective on life, and I don’t want that perspective to change at all.

Secondly, this week we had the rededication of the Mexico City Temple. Elder Holland and Elder Irving came to dedicate the temple and they both gave incredible talks, but the talk I loved more than the rest was the first one from Elder Holland he told the story of the Saints who had build and abandoned 2 temples before arriving to Utah, and that the first thing Brigham Young said arriving at the Valley "here we will build a temple to our God". Many people asked him and questioned him how long it would take? If they would have to abandon this one also? His response really changed the way I think and really impacted me. He said "I don’t know, and I don’t care. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or where I will be or if this temple will be finished. But while I have had to serve I will serve my Lord and God TODAY". What a powerful message from a powerful prophet. This man understood what it meant to consecrate his life to the Lord, to give everything he can TODAY because we never know what will happen tomorrow.

I want to leave you all with my testimony that I know this church is true, that this is the church of God, and that we need to do what ALL we can do TODAY, because we might not have the chance to do it tomorrow. I want you all to know that this principle will be applied in my mission, that even though I only have 8 weeks left I will use it ALL to be in the service of my God while I have the chance. I love you all and hope you all have a great week.

Love,

Elder Adams

1. My zone

2. Part of my area, I’m out in the middle of nowhere

3. Some recent converts at the new taco shop some members opened.

4. My companion

9/14/15 photos

1. My zone

2. Part of my area, I’m out in the middle of nowhere

3. Some recent converts at the new taco shop some members opened.

4. My companion

Friday, September 11, 2015

September 7. 2015

September 7, 2015

Well this week we finally baptized, Elder Solis and I. I love this couple a lot. They are so great and so much fun to be around. Their names are Ivan and Carolina. Ivan has his own movie shop where he sells movies (which means my last day here I’m going to have him give me a list of all the best movies to see that have come out in the last 2 years ;) haha) They have 2 children Isabella and Santiago. I love them a ton and I am so happy that we got to be a part of their conversion process. They love the church and both of them have such strong testimonies. They were baptized and confirmed this weekend to be able to go to the rededication of the Mexico City Temple. What a great experience that will be. To be able to assist the rededication with converts, that’s a sure way to cry. This will for sure be a family that I come back to visit with dad when we come back.

As for the time when its not P day I’m trying not to think about the time I have left in the mission but its almost impossible it always comes to my mind, especially in the morning when I’m in the shower or when my companions in the shower and I just have a little alone time to think. I’m really excited to come home but not excited at all to stop being a missionary. My emotions are so torn I don’t know what to think....

This week will be a good week we have the temple rededication, our ward is going to have a 15 of September ward party this Friday and we are going to invite all of our investigators, and this Saturday we should have another baptism. Her name is Yanet. She is the wife of an ex missionary that is just getting reactivated. She is really awesome but her parents are Christian Pastors so she has a little bit of fear to get baptized, but nothing we can’t work through. Well hope you all have a great week, and I can’t wait to see you all in about 9 weeks!! Take care until then!!

Love,

Elder Adams

photos 9/7/15

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

August 31. 2015 update

August 31, 2015

Before talking about Elder Christofersen something I forgot to tell you about last week was that my companion and I almost got struck by lightning literally 5 minutes after writing you guys about not dying.... ha ha, a lightning bolt came and landed about 3 feet in front of us.... and if that isn’t a sign that we are being protected by the Lord I don’t know what is.... ha ha

As for this week Elder Christofersen came to our mission and we had an amazing mission conference with him, he taught us a lot about the last commission that Christ made to his apostles and that today the people who carry out this commission are the 15 brethren, the 70s and us... or in other words we are companions to the general authorities. He also taught us that every missionary needs the spirit of revelation, the spirit of prophecy and the holy order of God. He taught us what each one of those meant and gave us multiple scriptures to use. One of the biggest things that I pulled away and want to apply is this concept I wrote about to President this week:

"As for what I learned from Elder Christofersen something that hit me hard is when he said "We need to have a firm testimony of every principle we teach in order for the spirit to testify of our words. I am filling out my own "registro de enseñanza, and this change and I’m going to finish. I have 3 columns to check off 1) When I have finished reading that principle and all the scriptures about that principle in preach my gospel. 2) When I have memorized 1 scripture for that principle. 3) I am going to kneel and ask my heavenly father for a strong testimony for each principle. That way I will mark off each one of the 42 principles that we teach and after passing off each principle I am going to write down my testimony in my study journal about each principle."

It was a great experience not only to be with Elder Christofersen but also to be there as mission, all of us together singing "called to serve" the spirit was so strong in that moment and it made me feel such a love for the mission that I am in and what this mission has meant to me. I love it with all my heart and I loved seeing all my friends that I have made here in the mission.

I love you all and hope you are all having a great week. I will post a lot of photos so don’t worry!! Love you all!!

Love,

Elder Adams