Reading is Believing

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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!
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Hermana Adams

Let It Rain

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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!
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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!
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Hermana Adams

Shrimp!

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It’s official – I actually really enjoy seafood now! We had tostadas con camaron – another one of the best things that I have eaten – but it was also 1 of 3 meals that we had that day. A less-active 17 year old girl made it for us and her sister is 8 years old and is preparing to be baptized – whoot, whoot! They haven’t been to church in 2-3 years and they came the past two Sundays in a row – love it!

I was able to go on exchanges with Sister Webb this week – can you say flashback? We had so much fun! It was truly amazing to see how much she truly has grown and her confidence in herself and in her testimony. She is one of the sweetest girls that I know and she is such a hard and dedicated worker. She is the lucky charm because we were able to contact two of our potentials on the exchange that we have been trying to contact for a long time – love it!

Last Sunday at church – a gal from Derby, KS came to visit her granddaughter (Jackie) who is a member but nobody else is. We were talking to her and she said that Jackie’s mom (Katie) mentioned that she is now opening up to learn more about the gospel. We got in contact with her and met her at the church for a lesson – holy spiritual! When we asked her at one point during the lesson how she felt – she said, “Awkward.” Our hearts dropped – what does that mean? So we asked her and she said, “Of all the people that I have talked to about religion, nobody ever explained it in the way that you guys did. They never tried to relate the scriptures to me and find meaning while reading them.” It was so amazing! The member that came with us to the lesson was like, “I want to come – please, please let me know when you meet with her again.”

Dodge City Days and the parade are the best! They called us this week and we are volunteering at the rodeo – boo yeah! Also, Trace Adkins came to concert with some other wonderful country singers. Let’s just say that it is a good thing that they did not need our help for any part of the concert because that is our Achilles heel.

“Above all, do not be selfish! Generate a Spirit of selflessness and generosity. Celebrate and commemorate each day together as a treasured gift from Heaven.” – President Russell M. Nelson

Misionera Amor!
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Hermana Adams

Family Reunions

Who needs to sing when you can do this!?

Hola!

This week was so amazing! What could be better than exchanges in Liberal and Lamar!? It was so weird being back in Liberal because it felt like I had never left. We got to have dinner with the Hartley family. I gave Mama Hartley the biggest hug and it was so good to be “home” (my Liberal home). I didn’t get to see Uncle Gary because he had to work late out at the water pipes but I did get to talk to him on the phone. Sister Hittle came out with us and she is a powerhouse – talk about a strong woman. I got to see so many other people that I truly love. It was so good to see the new investigators that the Sisters are working with and to know that the Lord is truly hastening the work and leading them to those that are ready. Liberal is growing exponentially – there are stellar missionaries and members there.

We went straight from Liberal to Lamar (3 hour drive). On our way, we stopped in a small town called Ulysses to have lunch. We went to a cute Mexican restaurant on Main Street that had AMAZING food! Their homemade sauce was the best kind I have had so far. The missionaries there told us to go to the Palateria because their investigator owns it. He saw that we were missionaries so he gave us free ice cream and it was huge! Nothing better than small towns where they know who missionaries are and they respect them. We actually started writing a “Small Town Problems” book. A new thing we added to our book: We just finished eating and walked over to our car. I was driving so Sister Valdivia was standing behind the car to help me back out of the parking stall. I opened up the door, put my bag inside, and then paused! All of our suitcase stuff and everything was gone! I turned to Sister Valdivia and said, “Yo, where’s our stuff?” We stood there silent for a good 10 seconds and then realized that it wasn’t our car. We about died laughing as we ran to our car that was 2 cars over. Small Town Problems – People do not lock their car doors!

Lamar – wow it has been so long! Since I left, Lamar got a new Taco Truck that is apparently super amazing! Also, the Sisters have been having mice problems again so they had traps set all around the house (probably about 12 of them). They did find where most of them were coming in – there is a hole underneath the sink. We had dinner with the Miller family – and once again – another family reunion! They had a big barbecue and invited members of the ward to come. I got to go on exchanges with Sister Jordan who is such an amazing missionary! She is 23 and the sweetest girl that you will ever meet. We were talking to a gal outside mowing her lawn – and not too long afterward – she stopped mowing and talked with us for a good 20 minutes. It was so amazing to see the bits and pieces of the Plan of Salvation that she knew but she was missing some major gaps. The coolest part was seeing her face grow lighter and lighter as the testimonies shared sparked a remembrance for her and knowing that she is ready to make and keep sacred covenants.

After being gone for a couple days, it was so nice to be back home in Dodge where the hills seem like mountains and there are no mice in our apartment. I love it! The gospel is true and the only way that we will find true happiness is by abiding by its precepts – “Live the Gospel Joyfully!” We met the cutest gal from England this week and I learned something very valuable from her – “Work to live, don’t live to work!” That was one of the biggest differences that she saw when she moved to the United States. Sometimes we just go through the motions, but we need to change our nature, and truly enjoy the nature around us. I love Kansas!

“But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.” – Jacob 2:18

Misionera Amor!
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Hermana Adams

Boot Hill...

"Selfie" of Hermana Adams and Hermana Valdivia

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Last P-day we went and did the “tourist attractions” in Dodge City – so much fun! You would be amazed at how many people were there on a Monday. Dodge is apparently the place to be! The little shops and stuff reminded me a lot of Nauvoo. We got some fudge – so good!

This week was crazy busy so we hardly did any work in Dodge. We had exchanges in Garden City and so many miracles came out of it! I stayed in Dodge with Hermana Seigfried who used to be a horse trainer – so cool! The Elders gave us a referral to a young Hispanic couple and they were the cutest things! They prayed together for the first time and the Spirit about knocked us over. Afterwards, we walked outside and a couple houses down, a cute Guatemalan family was outside so we went and talked with them. Their mom was having such a hard time and asked if we could pray with her. So, of course we did – we will always pray! She had tears in her eyes and knew that Christ was lifting her in her trial. We went back the next day with a member in our ward who is a convert from Guatemala – so cool! He shared his conversion story and how it blessed his family (he has 10 kids). Her whole family gathered around to hear and they were all so reverent and loved it! She threw in some random Kiche (language in Guatemala) words but it was so cool to hear her speak.

We had Zone Training in both of the Zones out here in the West, so Sister Valdivia and I had to split up. It was the weirdest thing not having a companion for a couple of hours and having to move from companionship to companionship. I am so grateful for Sister Valdivia because she is truly an amazing missionary.

Dodge City is the best – I love Kansas!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” – Marianne Williamson

Misionera Amor!
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Hermana Adams

Happy 4th of July!

Hola!

I absolutely love the 4th of July! It was just a regular day for us but at night we could see a bunch of fireworks from our window. They were absolutely beautiful! So we planned and then watched the fireworks.

We had exchanges with the Oakley Sisters. I got to go with Sister Wall who just barely came out and she is absolutely adorable! She reminds me so much of Sister Webb and we had a lot of fun. One of their members talks with a British accent – so since then – I have been working on my British accent and it has improved tremendously. Someone was even convinced yesterday – whoot, whoot!

There was a boy walking when we got stopped by a train so we got out of our car and it turns out that he was very interested! We referred him to the Elders and they met with him the next day. Never before have I been so grateful for being stopped by a train!

With being on the West side of Kansas – we have to drive a lot but the corn is coming up and it is absolutely beautiful! I absolutely love Kansas.

We went to see some less-actives (Jone and John) out in the country and it turns out that they are just like Uncle Gary – love it! We literally had to break into their property to knock on their door (we didn’t have their number). But it was well worth the risk because they are such an adorable couple!

“Our brethren of Judah knew Him in ancient times, our brethren of Ephraim also.” – Boyd K. Packer

Misionera Amor!
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Hermana Adams