July 18, 2022

Hello Everybody 

These past few weeks have been absolutely crazy. They have been very eventful and stressful at the same time. This last week, I was transferred to Kernersville up in North Carolina. It has been a difficult transition for me. I spent 6 months in Rock Hill, so it was pretty hard to leave my comfort zone and move on. When I got the news that I was being transferred, I was honestly pretty excited.  I was a little burned out from being in Rock Hill for so long. But when I got to Kernersville, I missed Rock Hill a lot. I missed Elder Semrow, I missed the other missionaries, and I just missed being comfortable. 

One cool think that I have been reminded of this week, is that all aspects of life correlate with the gospel. This "stepping out of my comfort zone" also correlates with the gospel because no matter where you are in your life, there is always room for growth and improvement. We continually hear that when we fall or are struggling we end up growing.  I believe that to be true. Without the opportunities to fail in this life, there would be no growth or success. While I was reading in the scriptures, I came across my favorite scripture ever. It is 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10...

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong"

I have learned that as we are going along in life, it is really hard to see a way out of the hardships. Sometimes to the point where we are stuck in limbo for awhile. When we are in these times, all we need to do is put our faith in Christ and follow Him. Eventually we will see that as we are doing these things, all aspects of our life will eventually begin to get better. While being out on a mission, I have seen that very thing happen in so many of my friends life's, as well as mine and it is the most amazing thing to see and to experience. It completely fills my heart with joy and peace.

Okay onto Kernersville!

Kernersville is a cool little place. It is in the middle of nowhere, but it is awesome. It is in the middle of 2 big cities, Winston-Salem and Greensboro. Although it is a cool place, it also is a slower area which is fine because I love to keep busy and I also love a good challenge. It is always nice to succeed when you have put so much effort into something. So I hope success is what  happens here in Kernersville.

Pictures 

1. Elder Peay and I (my new companion)

2. Elder Semrow and I (my old companion)

3. Saying goodbye to Brother Robinson 

4. Saying goodbye to the brother of Brother Robinson

5. Cool hotrod

6. Saying goodbye to Mama Carol:(

7. Saying goodbye to Brother Craze

 North Carolina Charlotte Mission <2012758@ChurchofJesusChrist.org>

Wed 7/20/2022 8:03 PM

To:

• adamsfamrules@msn.com <adamsfamrules@msn.com>

 

20 Jul 2022

 

Elder Samuel Steven Adams

936 Madison Place Cir

Kernersville, NC 27284-7755

 

Dear Elder Adams,

 

You are hereby called to serve as a District Leader in the North Carolina Charlotte Mission.  Because of your obedience, diligence, and charity, you are both worthy and qualified to minister to our faithful missionaries.

 

Our Savior has given the most important direction on leadership: "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19).  "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).  "...but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister.  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all"  (Mark 10:43-44).  I encourage you to study Doctrine and Covenants 121: 34-46 to understand how you are to use the authority given.  

 

The "Mission President's Handbook" states the District Leader should: 1) Set the example for missionaries in the district by diligent study of the scriptures, obedience, hard work, and effective use of proselyting skills.  2) Carry a full proselyting load and strive to baptize regularly.  3) Supervise, teach, and inspire the missionaries during District Meetings and exchanges.  4) Interview baptismal candidates within the district, except for his candidates.  5) Look after the well-being of each missionary by calling them each night.  6) Demonstrate effective planning.  7) Follow up with the missionaries on media.  8) Submit reports accurately and promptly.  Please review the District Leader Responsibilities sheet on the Missionary Portal under Mission Documents.

 

Each district meeting should be uplifting and spiritual.  The focus should be on meeting objectives, reviewing instructions from the last Zone Conference, counseling with your missionaries on how to help the people they teach move to a higher level, and reviewing the (white) Missionary Handbook.  Remember your covenant "to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9).  As you do, you will be blessed and qualified to have the Holy Ghost as your constant companion.  I am grateful to be a fellow servant of the Lord.  I have great love and respect for you and look forward to a close and personal relationship as we serve our Lord and Master.

 

Sincerely,

Thaddeus M. Brown, President

North Carolina Charlotte Mission

 

cc: Parents

 July 4, 2022

Hey Yo 

This past week has been one of the best weeks of my mission. We were able to teach a ton. It is so amazing to see the benefits of our labors. During this week we taught a lady named Elizabeth, I just call her Liz. Anyway, we went to her apartment and started to talk to her. We had a planned lesson in mind to teach, but the Lord had other plans for her. As we were about to teach her about the restoration, something told both me and Elder Semrow, to just go with the flow and let the discussion go as needed. I love being laid back and letting things come when they need to. As we were talking with Liz, all the sudden, many experiences from home came into my mind and I knew these memories were things that I needed to share.  It was the coolest thing ever. We were talking about prayer and how we will find answers when we pray. A beautiful story came into my mind from the past. When I was about 10 years old, my parents had to go on Trek.  Brinley and I stayed with my grandma and grandpa. My grandpa owns 10-15 acres of land plus cows and horses.  While at my grandpa's, I remember  walking out in the pasture and having a wonderful time looking at the cows and horses. Before this journey, my dad gave had given me his pocket knife and said not to lose it. Well, while I was out in the middle of the pasture, I quickly realized I had done that exact same thing.  I had lost the pocket knife!! After 15 or so minutes of anxiously looking for it, I knelt down on my little knees and said a prayer. When I was done with this prayer, I got up and looked for it. Within 5 minutes of looking, I had found it. I know that that prayer helped me find it. It was lost in 15 acres. There is absolutely no way I could have found it on my own.  Prayer is one of the most precious gifts that we have in this life. It is amazing to see the wonders that can be performed when you pray and have faith.

I also wanted to talk about another lesson that we had this past week. We had a lesson with a lady named Mariany and it was really cool too. She was able to attend church a ton in her past and eventually got sucked into the deep hole of reading anti literature about the church. While she was asking us questions during this lesson, it was amazing to see some questions answered in her own life. We were talking about the Book of Mormon and she kept finding little details that don't make sense to her. While she was bringing up these concerns, a thought hit me. There are things that haven't been answered that are in the book of Mormon, but as we come unto Christ and pray diligently, answers will come to us by revelation. Wow that was awesome. I bare witness in my own life that I know that this church is the true Church of God. I know that this Gospel is meant for us to grab a hold, so that we can find some sense of peace and joy in our dark and dreary lives. I know that as we come before our Savior and serve Him with all effort possible, our trials and hardships in life will eventually come to pass. <- this has happened to me and it will happened for YOU:)

1. Picture for my mom

2. This country is beautiful 

3. Just some train tracks

4. Zone

5. Big queen or killer wasp

6. Ice cube reading the BOM

7. Land of the free

 

Sam shared his Testimony with the Priests and Teachers of the Sandridge Ward...

Hello Elder Adams ,

I hope things are well with you in North Carolina.  I am so proud of you Sam and your commitment to serve a mission.

We are leaving for Priest/Teachers Quorum High Adventure in the next couple of weeks.  I was wondering if you could send a message to me that I could share with the Priests/Teachers during a nightly devotional and let them know what you feel they need to do to prepare to service a mission like you.  Please feel free to share anything else you wish someone would have shared with you when you were a Priest/Teacher.  Please also share your testimony.

Thanks in advance.

All the best,

Adam Call

Sandridge Ward Young Men
Hey guy its Elder Adams. Right now I am serving a mission in Charlotte North Carolina and wow it has been a wonderful experience for me. During this duration of time I have seen a huge growth in myself. Not only have I gotten a deeper understanding of life and knowledge but I have gained a testimony that is centered on our savior Jesus Christ.
 
One thing that I would like to point out is when I first came out here to NC. Man was I a nervous wreck and I had absolutely no clue what in the world I was doing at the moment. As y’all know, I came home for a knee surgery and it was the hardest thing that I have done in my life up to this point. During this time period that I was home I was set in my ways and told everyone that I was not coming back out here. Little did I know, the Lord had other plans for me. So, I eventually got to the point where I was deciding to come back out on a mission and that is the best decision that I have ever made. Why? You may ask. Because of the wonderful opportunities that I have had to serve and help Gods children. These wonderful opportunities have all been very spiritual and they hold a very special place in my heart. These opportunities that you find out on a mission, you cannot and will not find anywhere else in your life. The beautiful experiences that you experience out here will shape you for the rest of your life. I promise that as you decide to serve a mission that you will have these same experiences. I promise that the Lord will make wonders happen in your life. I promise that you will be able to see the growth that you have been able to accomplish. At times it will be very hard. You might even have the feeling and thought to want to go home. In those situations I challenge you to look on the bright side of things and think about the hard things that you have been able to accomplish in your own life. I would also invite you to think about what Christ has gone through just for you. He has gone through every Pain, Heartache, Temptation, Affliction, Mental discouragement, Physical discouragement, and all this because the worth of your soul is far too great to be lost and forgotten about. He loves you, He will be there for you in your hardest moments, and He will give you inspiration. At this time I challenge you all to start reading your scriptures a little more. You may already be reading your scriptures and that is great but I am asking for you to do some more because it will help you out in the long run. I challenge you guys to go out and serve the people around you. If you do these things I promise that there will be spiritual experiences involved and you may not see it right off the bat but keep doing it and you will soon realize that you are doing miracles. You guys are amazing.
 
Some things I wish I would have been told before my mission are:
1. I wish I would have been told how hard the start can be.
2. I wish I would have been told how much the spirit is involved in this work.
3. I  wish I would have been told the details of how amazing it is to be out here.
4. I wish I would have been told that I am not expected to be perfect on a mission.
5. I wish I would have been told to be myself at all times.
6. I wish I would have been told how hard it can be to get along with some companions.

Some things I wish I would have done before my mission are:
1. I wish I would have studied the scriptures more.
2. I wish I would have distanced myself from the worldly things.
3. I wish I would have gone out ministering a lot more.
4. I wish I would have paid more attention in church and seminary.
5. I wish I would have been prepared to be uncomfortable with my living situation.
6. I wish I would have been ready to be away from my family and friends.
7. I wish I would have listen to the spirit more growing up.
8. I wish I would have had more faith in the Gospel.
9. I wish I would have done more service.
10.  I wish I would have taught the gospel more back home.

I would like to leave with my testimony. Over these past two years I have really come to know the characteristics of Christ and who he is. I know for a fact that he lives. I know for a fact that he is in our day to day lives and that he is supporting us every step of the way. I know that He loves us and wants the best for us even though that might mean going through hard times. I know that the Atonement is not a backup plan. It is the game plan. God knew that we were going to mess up in our lives and that is why he implemented the Atonement into our individual lives. I know that the Atonement is so wide spread to every single person that has ever lived on this world or ever will but I also know that it is person to us individually. I know that this work, “bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” is sacred and it is something that is so perfect. I know that we are meant to be placed into the lives of others for a reason and that is for us to find out why. I bare this testimony upon you in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Amen.

June 20, 2022 

Hello Everyone 

This past week has been pretty good, but to be honest. it was also very generic. Sometimes I feel like I am constantly living the same day over and over again. I'm here in Rock Hill still and have been for the past 6 months. Plus, I pretty much started my mission here (way back when) so it has really been more like 9 months in South Carolina.  I feel like there isn't a whole lot more work I can do and I honestly think that I have reached out to every single person in our area book! But I also know that there is something in store for this amount of time that I have been here. For the next transfer that will be coming up,  I think it would be really nice to go somewhere else in the mission. I think I will probably go up to Charlotte or somewhere around there. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

This past week we have been teaching some really good lessons. To be a little bit more specific, we taught Johnny a lesson. Johnny is probably our most progressing person at the moment. He is a great guy and definitely someone that has a lot of trust in God. It is amazing to see his growth and more importantly his testimony. I think my favorite thing about being a missionary is watching those that you care about gain a testimony and receive the wonderful blessing that come from living the gospel. I love watching the joy and peace that they are getting, especially in their struggles with life. That is a real testament to me that there is no way the God is not aware of what we are going through. While being a missionary I have heard, "You came into my life at the right exact moment!" WOW, that is the best feeling ever to know that God placed you in someone's path to help them build a relationship with their Savior, which will help them in all aspects of their life. WOW, missionary work is amazing.  One thing I have realized on my mission, is that everything about the gospel is about helping other people. When you look in the scriptures you see that most stories are about someone helping someone else . Even if that someone is God helping his beloved children. Holy smokes, I love this gospel and I love you all or all yall;)  I am thankful for every single one of you because each of you have helped me somewhere down the road and have follow the example of our Lord and Savior!

1. Exchanges w/ Elder Rout

2. Just a beautiful picture

3. The horizon 

4. Cam asleep

5. Dinner

6. Obi Wan Kenobi on a Baptismal Schedule