Bed Bugs...

Hola!

Yep – it is official – we had bed bugs and it was the worst thing ever! I have slept without a pillow for a week straight – but no worries – I get it back today. They could have been a lot worse but we were able to catch them soon enough. I just had a line of bites on my neck leading down my right arm – joy! The funny thing is – that night we washed all of our stuff and got new cover things and everything. We had four of the Sisters sleep over in our apartment for interviews the next day. They were all nervous but it all worked out!

Ashley’s and Brenda’s baptisms were yesterday and they are such valiant young girls! They are such sweethearts and were so nervous to be in a big white suit. We just told them that they were angels and they accepted it. It was a big family celebration and their mom made “bomb” empanadas. The girls received their cute CTR rings that they wore for the rest of the day. Even Olivia, their younger sister who was already baptized, got one. The girls, Sister Eyre and I all match now with our CTR rings. That night we had a Mission President’s devotional in Garden City and the three girls came. Ashley even shared her testimony in front of everyone! Did I mention that she is only 11!? Yeah – talk about stellar!

At the Mission President’s devotional, I saw Andy Lovato from Liberal! Oh my goodness, I just about cried when I saw him there. One of the first things he said to me was that he is going to be baptized this Saturday (he hadn’t told many people this). The whole devotional I had to hold back tears because I couldn’t stop thinking about Andy and how excited I was for him. It is official – he is going to be in the Bishopric one day – he just needs to get wet!

So, when I met these two young less-active members here in Dodge, I may have faked an English accent. At the end of the lesson, I told them that I was joking and we have had a bond ever since. Yesterday at church, they came and told us that they wanted us to meet their friend from Trinidad who has a real accent. After church we went over to meet him and we were supposed to talk in our accents but my Southern accent kept coming back. Anyways, their friend was so sweet and so prepared! He accepted The Book of Mormon like a champ and he has so many great morals without even knowing the gospel. It is amazing what a little fake accent can do!

“As a result of the many miracles in our lives, we should be more humble and more grateful, more kind and more believing. When we are personal witnesses to these wonders which God performs, it should increase our respect and love for him; it should improve the way we behave. We will live better and love more if we will remember that. We are miracles in our own right, every one of us, and the resurrected Son of God is the greatest miracle of all. He is, indeed, the miracle of miracles, and every day of his life he gave evidence of it. We should try to follow after him in that example.” – Howard W. Hunter

Misionera Amor!
Siempre Una Aventura
Hermana Adams

Sunflower Fields

Hola!

I got to go back to my roots once again – good old Lamar! On our way there, I saw my first legit sunflower field – gorgeous! So, of course, we had to stop and take plenty of pictures. Lamar is growing so much! The Hicks just reached their year mark but they are living in Arizona now. So, they will soon be going to the temple to be sealed and I’m so happy for them!

We had a church tour with Katie (mom of a member). She has a lot of questions and concerns but it was the most amazing experience to stand in front of the baptismal font and let the Spirit work. She questioned about children and their innocence and how it played a part in God’s plan. Thank you to The Book of Mormon! We were able to share scriptures with her in regards to children and their innocence and testify that God does have a perfect plan and everyone will have the chance to accept the gospel whether in this life or in the next. The answer of that one question worked for her and opened her eyes to more of God’s glory.

Last night, we had the BEST FHE with the Soriano family. The Elders came with us and we did a live “Iron Rod” activity. We led them through their backyard with eight of the nine kids and their parents (baby was too little) and then we sang families can be together forever! They were all very touched by it – but more importantly – they learned a lifelong principle. Ashley and Brenda’s baptism is this Sunday. They have already started handing out their invitations and telling everyone! We are so excited for them.

“If we hold tightly to the word of God, we will remain on the pathway to eternal life.” – Elder L. Tom Perry

Misionera Amor!
Siempre Una Aventura
Hermana Adams

Reading is Believing

Hola!

Ashley and Brenda Soriano (ages 11 and 13) are the most amazing girls that I have met. We talked to them about the Word of Wisdom and the only one that they had an issue with was tea. We asked them if we could go off of something and they go off of tea – so that we could work on it together. They said, “You don’t need to do that – if this is what the Lord wants us to do – then we have no problem giving up tea.” Now this is coming from young girls – talk about faith! They absolutely love the youth programs and they read The Book of Mormon everyday together and tell us everything that they read. I have never had a 13 year old girl read over the story of Laban once and tell it in such great detail and understand it. She is already talking about serving a mission! What!? Unreal.

When we did service for “Dodge City Days” – we saw a family that was really adorable but didn’t get the chance to talk with them. Last week we drove by and saw one of the girls outside so we stopped and talked with them. Anyhow, we had our return appointment this week and the husband was there this time. The first thing that he said was, “I took this (holding the copy of The Book of Mormon that we gave them) to my Preacher and we talked about it – I have a couple of questions.” Talk about adrenaline rush as a missionary – Yee Haw! So we started with a prayer, and when it came time for him to ask his questions, he didn't remember what he was doubting. It is truly amazing how the Spirit works and brings to remembrance the things that truly matter. We were able to have a powerful Restoration lesson and you could literally see the Spirit working in each of them.

Jazmin and Hillary got baptized on Saturday – whoot, whoot! There were many of their non-member family members that showed up so the little room was packed. Their parents are so adorable and they brought pictures to put out on the table. We had a fantastic lunch (hot Mole) afterwards.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell:
Patience is not indifference. Actually, it means caring very much but being willing, nevertheless, to submit to the Lord and to what the scriptures call the "process of time." Patience is a willingness, in a sense, to watch the unfolding purposes of God with a sense of wonder and awe, rather than pacing up and down within the cell of our circumstance. Put another way, too much anxious opening of the oven door and the cake falls instead of rising. So it is with us. If we are always selfishly taking our temperature to see if we are happy, we will not be.

Misionera Amor!
Siempre Una Aventura
Hermana Adams

Let It Rain

Hola!

Well, I had to say goodbye to Sister Valdivia. It is amazing how close you get with your companions – and when they leave – it is like some part of you is missing. We had the most powerful Restoration lesson with her last night. We went with Darcie (recent convert) and Cesar (her husband) to get snow cones. We finished eating and were talking about The Restoration. It started to sprinkle outside but we just kept trucking along. Before we knew it, we were drenched and it was pouring rain! But none of us stood up to get dry until after 5 minutes in the pouring rain. Then, we finished the lesson in their car. It is amazing to see how bad he truly wants it. He has some issues with the Word of Wisdom – but he has seen the change in his wife – and wants that same kind of joy in his life.

Jone and John (less-actives) that live in a super cute country home are coming back to church! Two weeks in a row – can I get a whoot, whoot? We talked about the Plan of Salvation with them – and for the first time – they were able to understand the fundamentals of God’s plan. There is nothing that brings more joy than seeing others be able to grasp that concept. There is a purpose here and most do not see it through all of the fog.

The Elders have been working with a family of nine kids and all of the kids are baptized except the two girls – Ashley (age 11) and Brenda (age 13). They asked us to go over and try to connect with them so we connected with them through dance. Yes – Sister Adams cannot dance at all – but it was enough to build this relationship. Well, last night Ashley told us that she now feels comfortable and wants to be baptized! She has loved all of the classes and she and her sister call Activity Days “Craft Nights.”

Sister Eyre is amazing! We have had so much fun and have seen so many miracles. She is so talented and has a beautiful voice! Another thing – Sister Adams cannot sing. But you would be amazed at how many times we have been singing in lessons this last week. Sister Eyre has a beautiful voice and it immediately brings the Spirit.

“The eternal perspective of the gospel leads us to understand the place that we occupy in God’s plan.” – Rafael E. Pino

Misionera Amor!
Siempre Una Aventura
Hermana Adams

Home on the Range

Hermana Adams and Hermana Valdivia – One Last Time

Hola!

This week was Gloria’s baptism! Her face was priceless as she came out of the water – and after everything – she went around and thanked everyone personally for coming. She was literally glowing the next day! The church is true and the Gift of the Holy Ghost is a sacred gift.

We had the privilege to go play cowgirls on P-Day at a member’s farm. They picked us up at 7:00 am, made us breakfast, we went out and tied wire for a couple of hours, ate lunch, tied more wire, played a little bit of pool, and then ate FANTASTIC steaks. We are all officially “red necks” and had so much fun!

There is not a temple anywhere near us but it is amazing the Spirit that you feel out in the middle of nowhere – beautiful Kansas!

Misionera Amor!
Siempre Una Aventura
Hermana Adams