March 28 

What's going on everyone!?!? This week was absolutely wonderful. We started the week off by going to the temple on Tuesday. It was so awesome. The temple that we attended was the South Caroling Columbia Temple and it was amazing. But it was really, really small. It was literally one story tall.  Even though it was small and different than the temples in Utah, the same feelings were felt from the first time I went through the temple. So, while going through the temple I had one of the most powerful experiences that I have ever had and all I could think about was how good God is. It is so amazing how powerful  you can feel the spirit.  The temple trip was the highlight of the week.

Even though I would consider the temple trip the highlight of the week, we also had Zone Conference and it was absolutely amazing as well. We learned a lot about the God Head and the specific roles within it. It was awesome because I was able to gain a little bit of background for when I get to teach those fire breathing Baptist ahaha. But the best part about zone conference was that I was able to see Elder Frogley again and it was so great to see him. I absolutely love that kid. He is one of my best friends. I had such a good time talking with him and reminiscing, it was a huge blessing because it allowed me to have some more happiness that day. 

 So overall, this week was amazing! I was able to feel the spirit, learn from our Mission President, visit old companions, and definitely feel the blessing of the Lord in my life:)  I know that Christ is the Savior of the world. I know that He is here with us every single step of the way. At our lowest moments, He is right beside us ready to help. I know that this gospel is the true Word of God. I know that the atonement is personal to every single person. I know that the atonement can make anything clean and pure. I know this because I have experienced it in my own life and it has completely allowed me to grow and to flourish:)

I love you guys. See you next week. Let me know if I can do anything for you.

1. Zoom meeting was lit

2. Me, Elder Frogley, Elder Durfee

3. Elder, Frogley and I

4. The temple

5. The night before

 

 March 14, 2022

Howdy everyone!

This week was a good one.  This past week, I found out that I was staying here in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  This wasn't necessarily bad news. I have actually grown to love this area and see that it's not really as bad as I remember. I think that I have mentioned this in past emails... I served in Rock Hill when I started my mission and it was really hard for me because I was so homesick and I missed my Mom haha. I also missed being comfortable at home in Syracuse. I really believe that this is a blessing from God because when I got home after hurting my knee, I told my parents that I never wanted to go back to that place ever again. But things work out in strange ways, and here we are again! 

Although this area is a full bike area, it has been wonderful! My legs are getting shredded haha. I have really learned that God has a plan for me as he does for each and everyone of you. I have learned how to love this place that I once swore I would ever go back to.  Now if that wasn't God teaching me a lesson, then I don't know what is. 

This week we have been focusing our efforts on making every single person we come into contact with to smile. In my patriarchal blessing, it says that I have a gift from God to help others feel peace and comfort through my smile. So I know that by me trying to make everyone smile through my smile, I am helping someone out there.  While trying this exercise, I have realized that all I want to do is make people happy. I know that God is helping me with this because it helps me to feel happiness and peace:) I love the happiness that comes from this gospel! It is something that you cannot and will not find anywhere else. Now for that reason alone, I know that this gospel is true and I know for a fact that if you are struggling in your life, you can reach out and help someone else and that will bring you the peace that you need in your life! I promise:) 

I LOVE THIS CHURCH❤

Elder Adams

picture time:)

1. biking in the rain

2. elder Robinson and I on a very cold day burrrr 🥶

3. cool car 🚗 

4. beautiful sunset

 February 21, 2022

What's up my guys! This week was one to remember for sure, we had a wonderful week! In fact, we led the whole mission in finding new people!!!! We found 8 new people this week and we also put someone on date to be baptized. Her name is Tumekia and she is amazing, she is the definition of elect! This was our second lesson with her so we taught her the restoration of the church and she absolutely loved the fact that we have the priesthood in our church. Then we introduced the Book of Mormon to her and again she absolutely loved it. In her own words..."I like this more than the Bible because you get a better understanding of Jesus Christ." She also said that she hasn't been baptized ever and when she was growing up, she had always dreamed of being baptized. We were so happy and excited with her responses. We were able to put her on date to be baptized the 19th of March. The most incredible thing is that this gospel is going to change her life forever! I know that her decision to be baptized will give her peace and allow her to draw closer to Jesus Christ.

This week in my studies, I have been reading in Alma, specifically chapters 50 through 56. In these chapters, the Laminates and the Nephites are at war.  The Nephites are fighting for peace and for their families where as the Lamanites are just fighting to gain power over the Nephites. In these chapters, the Nephites are lead by Moroni and Moroni is a man of God. It says in Alma 48:17 "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." That is such a powerful scripture!  

I know that because the Nephites and Moroni were righteous and thtt they held firm to the commandments, they were able to win many of their battles because righteousness was on their side. I know that as we put forth effort in following the teachings of Christ, our burdens will become more light and God will bless us in our own lives. 

 February 14, 2022

What is up you guys! 

Sorry, I have really been slacking on emails recently. This past week has been a really good one! But unfortunately, in the past few weeks, we have had to drop a lot of our people we were teaching because they were not progressing. But this week we found 4 new people who are super solid. We are really happy about this, it is a blessing in disguise for sure. Also this week, I think we had at least one lesson a day, which is very different then what it was like in Lenoir.  Meeting with our new people is exciting and lessons are coming easy for me.  It is like bearing my testimony and I know just what to say. It is kind of amazing to realize how much someone can progress while out on a mission.  So MANY blessings have come my way.  Before I started my mission, I think I could bear my testimony for maybe like 3 minutes and I didn't know a whole lot about the gospel then. But as I have put myself in these situations, I have been able to grow in many ways. 

Lately, I have been thinking about how much potential everyone has! Everyone can progress in their own way. That has brought me a lot of peace these past few days to know that no matter where you are in life, there is a lot more room for you to grow. Now that can be humbling and can also bring so much hope in one's life.

1. Cool dunk

2. No caption needed

3. Me jus messing around

4. Me and the fountain 

 January 31, 2022

Hello there! 

This week has been good! It has also had its lows. This week I had to say goodbye to all my friends in Lenoir:( saying goodbye to the ward members and people I have taught was not the hardest part. The hardest part was saying goodbye to the other missionaries. It was so hard saying goodbye to the OGs that where in the Hickory Zone. But the very hardest goodbye far was saying goodbye to Elder Frogley. That kid right there is someone that I will be friends with my whole life! I know that he was placed in my life for a reason. For the past 5 months, we have developed a friendship that can't ever be broken EVER. I love that kid! He made me laugh, even when he would throw things at me Hahaha. Man, I am going to miss him. 

On Thursday, we had transfers and I was transferred to the beloved place of Rock Hill (where I started my mission). Over the past few days before being transferred, I was so nervous to leave and go back to the place that I once dreaded. When I found out I was going back, my heart started pounding because I was so nervous. But now I'm here, I can already see the change. When I first started my mission back in August 2021, I hated Rock Hill.  I came out during Covid and I was homesick, depressed, and had anxiety about everything. For the whole 3-4 months I was out, I could not get the thought out of my head of wanting to go home. Then I had a basketball injury and I ended up going home. I was so happy to go home and see my mom. But I was more happy to go home and get comfortable with the world again. (I was home for 8 months) in this 8 months I was struggling on whether to come back out or not. But also in this 8 months, I had a great time and I would even say I grew closer to the Gospel. Not as close as I would on a mission but still close. I met some wonderful people and got to know people a little better. Now that I am back out, I have absolutely loved it. I am so grateful and happy I made that decision.  It has affected my life forever. Anyways, I know without a doubt that I was sent back here to Rock Hill for a reason and that reason is so God can show me that I can do hard things... that we all can do hard things. We go through hard things to grow and progress. I love this Gospel. I love the key lessons that it has taught me. I love gaining a better testimony of Jesus Christ. But most importantly I love helping and getting to know people. I am so grateful to be back out here serving the Lord and seeing the blessings come. I love you guys. Thank you for supporting me:)

1. Elder Robinson and I

2. Very old lawn mower that I know my dad will think is cool

3. Luckily there is life after death

4. My hand after dunking today

5. Full bike area 

6. Last day with Elder Frogley:(

January 17, 2022 

Yodel lay hee whooooo! 

EVERYONE!!! How is it going! I miss you guys more then you can imagine! This week has been a real testimony builder! This week I have been focusing a little bit more on my studies and what I am learning! A mission is a place where an individual can grow so much without even noticing. This past week, I have been able to reflect on the things that I have learned. In this past 6 months I have learning life long lessons that I know I would not be able to learn anywhere else. I think the biggest lesson that I have learned is how to become more comfortable in hard times. I have know that everyone goes through hard times for a purpose! You see, every single time you mess up in life or something bad happens, it almost always builds you stronger and teaches you.  But most importantly, it hopefully brings you closer to your Savior. I have learned that you can use the atonement not only for repentance but also to get yourself out of times of sadness or dispair. When times get hard, you will always have someone cheering you on and pushing you to be your best. I have learned that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is so wide spread to every single person that has ever lived.  But yet, it is so personal to every single person. I believe that the Savior would have performed the Atonement even if you or I were the only people on the earth. That is the love of Christ.  He knows who we are perfectly. He has been through everything we have been through and even more. Jesus Christ went to the depth of all sins and then went even lower, just so he could  know how we feel when we go through our trials and so he could lift us up out of those difficult times. He loves us! 

I want you guys to know that I love you and if you need anything from me reach out because I am here to help:) 

Anyway, this week was pretty good because we were able to teach a lot of lessons. When I came into this area we were only teaching two people and one of them was a member. We are now teaching upwards of 12 people.

God is great when you show your willingness to serve. We found a new person over Facebook. That almost never happens. The best thing that came from this week is that I was able to strengthen my testimony through helping other people. When you sign up for a mission, you sign up to become a different person. A person who is devoted to helping other people the best way possible. At first I was not that person but like I said up there ☝, the mission changes you into a better and harder working person and I am so grateful for that:)

1. It snowed. What the heck! Church was cancelled yesterday! haha

2. I got a haircut.

3. This is what it looks like now.

4. Some dino nuggets.

 December 27, 2021

Last transfer for the dream team!

Hey guys Elder Adams here. How's it going? Hopefully good!

This week, Elder Frogley and I were informed that we would probably be transferred after this transfer so that was some sad news. Elder Frogley is such a good person and a great missionary and I am glad that I have had this opportunity to be his companion! This week was a slow one, probably because of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we had a mission wide conference. I was able to hear President Brown sing. Let me tell you, that man has some vocals ahaha. I was surprised. This week we taught a few lessons and those were super cool because I saw their eyes light up after I taught them about the gospel. Whether that was teaching them about the plan of salvation or if it was about the restoration. What a wonderful experience I have had out here in North Carolina. Many of you know that I came home for about 8 months for a knee surgery but in those 8 months, I had the hardest time deciding if I wanted to come back out or not. Those 8 months were probably the hardest 8 months of my life so far because of all the pressure I was feeling about going back out. But looking back on it now, I can see why I went through that. I was so close to not coming back out and that kind of scares me because now I have seen how great the experiences have been out here. Guys I wouldn't trade this for anything, not even a pair of shoes ahaha. I think that is the biggest lesson that I have learned out here. I've learned about the importance of a mission and how it can change someone. This knowledge that I am gaining of the gospel is something that is so powerful. It is something that will help me in the future whether is be with my future wife, family, or career. What a wonderful opportunity that I have and every other missionary is to learn more about Jesus Christ and his gospel and how it works, especially how the Spirit works. So cool!

This week for pday, we went golfing which was a blast and then we went on a hike! It was super fun to get out and see nature but at the same time I hate hiking. I used to say that hiking is a lousy way to work out ahaha! But this hike was definitely worth it. We were able to see an out look of the whole city and even up to Boone. I'll send some pictures. 

1. Picture of the look out.

2. Waiting for someone to do the titanic picture with me.

3. Mission picture 

4. Stopped because we saw a sign.