July 29, 2009

Sis Moody getting her hair cut by another missionary. She's sitting on a suitcase.

Ethiopian wedding eating paper

Knee highs are hot! You know you love it

Here's where we spend our preparation days, Sister Brown's house. We sun bathe and write letter and swim....just kidding!

From the Winter Quarters Pioneer Cemetery. So beautiful and peaceful

Community of Christ Temple nearby

A place we went tracting once. Heaven! Multi-million dollar homes.

Hi everyone!

We had some super interesting events happen this week: my favorite being the Ethiopian wedding we accidentally crashed. We were running late to our dinner appt. with a couple in our ward. We couldn't find them outside, so we walked over to their reception place, where a wedding was taking place. We were greeted by a really nice man who started telling us all about Queen Abasha or something. We're like "Ahh! We are so late and need to get to our next appt!" but had to be polite as he explained 500 years worth of history to us. He invited us inside and said our hosts (from the ward) were inside serving. Holy smokes! It was so beautiful! We were the only white people in there. So great! They had sweet music playing. They welcomed us like we were family. When we got our boxed sandwiches from the woman in our ward and headed out, they were so sad we were leaving!! Almost offended. Anyway, it was interesting. So Sis Moody and I hung out in the parking lot to eat our boxed meals. The cheese on our sandwiches still had paper in them! So gross! We were laughing our heads off. "We are eating paper sandwiches at an Ethiopian wedding, in the parking lot. Missouri is so weird!"

Then we delivered some burnt cookies we had made for a part member family. While driving home, we saw a woman out walking her pet iguana. I'm not kidding. And then we saw a car with a sticker on the back window that said "In loving memory: Jesus Christ". What in the world? Where AM I? It's been kind of a rougher week. Our baptisms are all falling through and now we have one on Saturday instead of four. And even she is sketchy. At her house the other day, there was a burnt Book of Mormon outside in a pan. It made me so sick to see. The words on those pages are from God. they are sacred and beautiful and perfect. To see the disrepect for something so wonderful was...just awful. People get anti-ed out here so easily.

I was on exchanges with Sis Card (my cute MTC companion) ! It was nuts! We are both brand new. She came to my area. BUT miracles happen on exchanges. We found a new family to teach! We sat on their front porch and taught the entire first lesson (the Great Apostasy and All!) And they just soaked it up. The grandma was like "Oh yeah. I know it's true." Then the little girl (11) said "We're moving soon. Can you come visit us when we move to Liberty? Can we come to church with you?" Oh my gosh. Seriously? Who are these people? So we'll see.

One of our investigator families came to church! Missionaries have been working with them for months and months. finally! Remember those miracle shoes that were sent to me from above at DI? The Danskos that were three bucks? Well, they gave me blisters and I almost left them at the MTC. But something said to take them. Guess who they were for? Ahh! Sis B needed them. It was pretty much the last thing that was keeping her from coming to church. I told her that God told me to bring those shoes to her. Pretty neat, yeah?

I totally believe in miracles. So on Sunday, we were discussing one of our investigators at ward correlation mtg. We were trying to think of someone who would be a good friend to this family. One of the sisters in our ward popped into my head. "Yeah right. She is kind of strict and is opposite personality of this poorer, laid-back family." Then our ward mission leader suggested her name. Anyway, the Lord is so funny!

We visited the family last night and this sister from the ward came (she happened to be available!) We hadn't met the dad before and he was the only one home. Turns out--Sis P. was for him! They just clicked and were talking like they were old pals. She was able to testify about the Restoration to him and he just loved it. She bore a bold testimony that the authority was lost when Christ and the Apostles died and that the same authority is on the earth again. I had my Gospel Art book (This thing is amazing! It speaks to people the way words can't), so we showed him who is our prophet today. He loved it! Here's the hard part: he WORKS for his church. He doesn't believe it's the true church neccessarily, but when your family income depends on it....ahh! I don't know how this is going to work, but I know it is.

Oh! Sis Card and her companion had a young man who is commited for baptism. He moved and they were so sad that they lost contact! Then he called them and said where his new house was. BAM! It's in mine and Sis Moody's ward boundaries! We get to meet him today. Satan is working very hard on him, throwing all sorts of lies his way, but we'll get this done! He is still planning on getting baptized and we'll be his new missionaries. Yay for the Holy Ghost!

I am totally running out of time. I will probs write a letter. By the way, I got so many letters this week! Everyone was making fun of me at the VC (they just deliver them there once a day). Thank you everyone who wrote me! I loved all the pictures! I will write back as soon as I can. I love you all and pray for your success in all you do.

Expect miracles.

Sister Adamson

July 22, 2009 Pics

Roo's companion Sister Moody

Roo in Winter Quarters

Winter Quarter's Temple

Turtle!

July 22, 2009

Ahh! Best week ever! I have been so blessed recently! OK, so I'm sure you are dying to know: David Archuletta came into the Vistors' Center! My friend, sis Witcamp got to give him a tour. He sang "How Great Thou Art" to everyone. I wasn't there because I was out doing something much more important (preaching the Gospel, of course!), but they took all sorts of pictures.

Just as exciting, though was when I saw the Petersons, from the ward! Sis Peterson gave me lots of hugs. It was so great! They should be coming home today. I was so lucky to have been on shift at the VC when they came in.

We were able to drive 3+ hours to the Winter Quarters Temple to do baptisms for the dead with 2 recent converts (one teenager, one older woman). It was the neatest experience ever. We spent the day going through the Pioneer Cemetery and exploring the VC there etc. It was interesting to feel the difference in their VC verses ours. We have way more rules as far as appearance and what we are limited to wear, etc. Anyway, it was quite the experience! I took a ton of pictures. It's a small temple (winter quarters), but still so beatiful. It's got some incredible artwork and stained glass. I loved the doorknobs. I'll probs attach some photos.

Mom, do you remember that picture that got emailed around of the "porch swing" that was outside a really ghetto/white trash "home"? I SAW ONE HERE! It was an old, dilapitated, rotton couch tied with rope for a "swing". I laughed so hard and told everyone about it! We'll have to drive by again to get a photo.

One of the sisters at the VC is on a 6 month mission- Sis Rytting. She had to come home early from her full-time mission in AZ, due to fiber myalsia (spell?) She is so fantastic! I love her! She is cousins to the Gillespies in our home stake, so we talk all about them each time we see each other. She knows the Wights. So great!! No, she does not play Limp...(dang. how awesome would that be? To limp her while on a tour-haha!) She made brownies yesterday that were of the devil. I've been so good lately about eating right and they threw everything off because they were so tempting and addictive. Curse those sugary balls of goo!

I am loving it here. We are teaching a family who struggles financially. Their home is not the best environment for teaching, but last time was incredible! For once, the kids settled down and let us read with them. We committed them to read Alma 5 together (intense, I know!) and it was such a neat experience. They wanted us to sing, so we tried the Hymn "Love at Home", to allow the Spirit to teach them through music. It was so powerful! We then sang "Nearer My God, to Thee". I can't even explain how it felt. Something so simple...you wouldn't think could change a person's life, but it can. they are possibly coming to church on Sunday, which is huge!

We got a referral from "Headquarters", which means they called in to order something and we give it to them. This older woman accidentally called in and got talked into ordering a DVD for free. When we went by, we didn't know what to expect. Turns out she's golden! I think she will get baptized. She has a very open mind and discussed with us what prophets are and how it could make sense that we would have one today. It was uh-MAY-zing. Sis Moody went through the first lesson, then turned to me to share Joseph Smith's experience. I stared into this woman's eyes and got to tell her about how God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ appeared to a young boy. The Spirit was a laser. For rils. I love telling people about Truths and allowing the Spirit to change their lives. Man, I love this work!

I am on exchanges often, since S Moody is a leader at the VC. Last time, I had S Stanton. Everyone says she looks like me. We are a lot alike. It was nuts. We taught more lessons than we normally do and had some neat experiences where I got to teach about the importance of the Sabbath Day. I helped commit a younger boy to live the word of wisdom. So great!

Funny quotes from this week: A woman introduced herself at church (she's a large Polynesian woman) and she says with a snap in her voice, "And who are you? Sister Attitude?"

We had one of our investigators pray at the end of the lesson. At the end, he goes, "OK, God. I love you to death! ... Well, not to death, obviously, but you know what I mean because..." and then just rambled on and on about death. hil-ar-iuos.

It has been the most fantastic weather! the locals all say it's the coolest it's been in a long while. I feel really lucky. The humidity is not so bad. Also everyone here smokes. We have so much to memorize! You have to memorize all the little bullet points from the Lessons in Preach My Gospel. this morning, I FINALLY passed off Lesson 1. You also have to recite a scripture for each principle word-for-word. Once I get through all 5 lessons, I can drive the car! But until then it's "Oh, S Adamson, will you help back me?" Missionaries have to get out of the car to help the other back the car. It's weird, but what can you do?

I love you and I really really have appreciated the emails and letters I've gotten from friends and family. It's so comforting to know you are praying for me, when I have rough days (yes, they do happen). I'm happy and I'm growing. I'm so thankful to have the Truth. Do all you can to invite the Holy Ghost into your lives. It makes a world of difference. the best way to invite the Spirit is to talk about Truths. He is automatically invited. Bearing testimony is so underestimated. Do it!

He lives, He loves you and He will always answer your sincere prayers. Lots of luff,

Sister Rooey

July 15, 2009

...Temple Square was a really neat experience. It was so strange to drive past the 1600 N exit. My temporary Salt Lake companio was Sister Nok from Hong Kong. We were going to do a tour in Mandarin, but they cancelled. She told me to just point to the box on the referral card that says "I want missionaries over", smile, and nod my head. Ha ha! I was so happy to see real people that I was like, "Can we go talk to them?" Anyway, I'm glad the MTC had us do it.

That night -July 4th- they had a special show, where they acted out what some of the reformers did and then had an actor play Joseph Smith. They let us stay up late and watch the Stadium of Fire finale. That was the best part! 2000 missionaries=a lot of energy on a Holiday.

Our first night here, we slept at the Van Komen's aka mission home: all bajillion of us! They had a little orientation meeting (when I say little, I mean 3 hours long). It was so neat. They talked about the usual health, cars, finances and then told us how special this mission is. They read quotes from general authorities about these sacred places. It really hit me that I am in a very holy land. Miracles happen here frequently because this is where the Savior will come to organize what needs to happen during the Millenium. I feel so blessed to be entrusted with helping these people prepare.

The ward we're assigned to is very supportive! Our ward mission leader is on fire! He's new to the calling and wants to reactive and baptize like crazy! Ward members feed us all the time -dinner every night and sometimes lunch. They feed us in their homes or drop it off if we're on shift at the VC.

There was a huge rainstorm the other day. It's funny because Sister Moody and I were walking to church and she looked up and said "The weather here is so crazy. One min, blue skies. One minute, downpour." Clouds came quick and raindrops were slowly hitting the sidewalk. We weren't stressed, but we accepted a ride from a ward member anyway. By the time we parked and got out, it was pouring. We went outside an hour later and one of the large trees out front had been destroyed! I don't know whether it was the wind or lightning or pressure from the rain...but it's crazy here! Something about the absence of mountains makes the thunder much louder!!

Sister Moody has lots of resources for kids. She has so many fun ideas! The best one so far we call the Paper Trick. It's a magic trick where you fold the paper while talking about the Book of Mormon and the Atonement. There's a surprise at the end and children love it! It gets us on a good note with the parents and allows us to teach truths about scriptures and Jesus Christ. It's wonderful! Then we tell people about how along with Christ, our church believes families are central. We tell them about Family Home Evening and ask if we can come back for another appointment. The paper trick is gold.

Funny quotes from this week:
We were having a frustrating day with no lessons. Sister Moody pled in her prayer, "Heavenly Father, please help us to find the Elite." We went down another street and I burst out laughing. There on this person's fence was a big orange sign that said, "Elite." God is funny.

We knocked a door and the man who answered saw our nametags and said, "Hello, what can I NOT do for you?"

After we had already talked to him and laughed with him, knocked a few neighboring doors...a little boy about 9 runs up and shouts, "Don't you DARE try to find out where we live!"

One lady answered in a bath robe and awkwardly replied, "sorry, I'm in the middle of...something..."

My new motto is "expect miracles." It's the only thing that keeps me doing this 99% rejection can really get you down if you let it. But you have to tell yourself that you just can't "waste" time with those who aren't ready for the truth. You have to be cheerful, friendly and open every single time because one person will be ready. We met a few people this week who have potential. One is a man who has studied/researched religion a lot. He's not sure about God and may or may not believe in time travel. He thinks religion is great for his kids, just not important for him (we find this a lot). We'll be back.

Expect miracles because they happen. Ok, so as I mentioned, we've been focusing a little more on the less-actives in the ward since our new investigators are out of town. One name stood out to Sister Moody, so we drove over. We were pretty discouraged when we saw that we only had the address for the apartment complex. It's illegal to go tracting in apartment complexes. We didn't know what to do besides check the mailboxes and utilities box. With no luck, we kind of stood there. All Sister Moody had told about this family was that they were less active, yet both ahd served missions. Behind the complex there's a parking lot of all the cars in there (ten or so at the time). One jumped out to me. It was as if I had always known this couple and it was obvious this was theirs. In my mind, I had kind of narrowed it down to 2 doors that could be theirs. Sister Moody somehow had the same thought and walked toward the same two. She kinda cocked her head, looked at me with a half smile and knocked. A woman cracked open the door and said in a thick German accent through the lock chain (like a hotel room) "Hold on." She shut the door and we heard her shuffling things around. Sister Moody looked paralyzed. "That's her." God knows exactly what he's doing. He knew they would be home ona Saturday after 2pm. He knew we couldn't go around asking where this couple lived. He knew she would gladly let us into her home. Expect miracles.

~Sister Adamson

PS-I get to go with some of the recent converts in the ward to the temple (for baptisms)! We're going to the Winter Quarters, Nebraska temple on Saturday. I'm so lucky. Who knew it was close?

July 15, 2009

Hello my dear people from the hot and humid lands of Missouri.

The plane was so small! 16 missionaries took up about a fourth of the plane. I was very lucky not to be sitting next to a missionary. I sat next to a man who was on business. His family is from SLC. He didn't serve a mission, but his brothers did. I tried my best to discuss it with him and invite him back. I told him about how amazing the Visitor's Center is and encouraged him to stop by if he had time between meetings.

Pres. and Sis Van Komen are the nicest people in the world! All the other missionaries piled into a giant van and sis Card and I jumped in President's car. He is a kind, softy-spoken man with not much to say. Sis VK is super cute and was eager to tell us all about our new city and what's happening where. They showed us where the new "greater Kansas City Area" temple is going to be. It's right off the freeway. Pres Uchtdorf came to dedicate the land, but they haven't started anything yet. No one knows when that will start. Hopefully soon!

My new companion ("mom") is sister Michelle Moody, from CA. She is like five feet tall! So darling! She is really into sports and is excited that I want to run with her every morning. For those of you who know Missy Lee from Timpanogos, she looks just like her! It's weird. We get along really well. She is one of the VC leaders and so she keeps every rule to a T in order to set a good example. I LOVE IT. She is the perfect trainer for me: willing to explain the little acronyms and all. So fun!

The VC sisters (there are I think 18 of us) live in houses. There are, I think 3 sets of sisters in our house. The house is split up into separate apts, so we never see them. We have brand new Pontiac Vibes to drive. So great!

Oh my goodness! So much to say! OK, so the VC- It's the best place ever! We take turns doing tours and sit upstairs, waiting for guests to come. Every day is different for our shift. We're either morning from 9-3pm or evening from 3-9pm. We only know about a week in advance where we are going to be, so I probs won't be able to work it out to be there when people (like from the ward) come to visit. ??

My second day, I had to give a tour! It's PURE CHAOS here! Busloads come in unexpectedly by the hundreds! My 1st tour had 14 people in it: members on a church history trip. I was able to answer all their questions. Thank goodness for VC training at the MTC, where they prepped us. My third day, I was the only person available (again) when 2 skanky-looking girls came in, high school-aged/college. Hmm, looks like the greenie gets to take nonmembers on a tour! It was fantastic! One was an "inactive" Community of Christ member (which is RLDS. They changed their name a few yrs ago) adn the other was a history major, interested in only the history part of the tour. Yikes! At one point in the tour, there's an opportunity to tell the story about the Rollins girls who saved the pages of the Book of Commandments (later D&C) from the mob. I took a moment there to talk about the importance of scripture and bore a quick testimony about the BoM and the bible. I wasn't even scared! This mantle of a missionary...this responsibility I have been given is really incredible. The girls were really cute, not interested in learning more, but I was just grateful they had someone who wasn't stuck in "tour guide" mode (some of the sisters here say the same thing every single time! It's kinda lame). They had a fun experience and were able to feel a portion of the Holy Ghost, which is the whole point. Yay!

We have 4 people who are committed to baptism! they're all teenagers. I met one, Misty, on my first day. She's cute. We taught her about the Word of Wisdom and committed her to live it. I always imagined missionary work being this awkward thing where you force people to do things they don't want to do, but with Misty, she's just like "Oh, I've always felt that way. I've seen people do that and they're not happy". she is so great. She's come to church a few times.

Our area (ward) is huge. So when we have appointments in a section which is far away, and they're not home, we just knock doors. It's getting easier. I never had to "do it by myself" or anything because it's just natural the way S Moody and I switch off. Can I just tell you I have the best mission call ever? OK, good. Because I do.

When people aren't interested or they say something like "I'm a catholic and you're not going to change that." We're just like "Pk, great! Have you ever been too the LDS Visitor's Center? You have? Well, we've got this powerful exhibit right now called Reflections of Christ. It's a photography exhibit that's free and is open every day, all day. Here's a pamphlet!" They soften right up and they're like "It's free? I'm going to take my kids!" Ho-ly smokes. We're just reelin' 'em in left and right. We hand those pamphlets out like candy. It's such a nonthreatening thing. We can also tell them about the free movies we show. Bada-bing! Baptisms in week. JK, but it's perfect.

The sisters here are so awesome! Most of them are excited about sports and aren't lame or really old or anything. I get along with all of them. I see S Card and her companion all the days. And I see S Sasaki frequently as well. And because S Moody is in a leadership position (it's like a female zone leader), she is in mtgs all day. I don't see her much while we're serving in the VC. So it's like I have 8 other companions. Ha ha! I've given a bajillion tours already. I really DO NOT want to turn into a robot by the end. I try to share a different scripture or a different interesting fact about the pioneers on each one. Every single time, we are to ask for referrals of people who may need the Gospel in their lives (Ok, we all "need" it, but only some are ready). I already have 3 people to call! I'm so nervous. But I've been "called to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life" (3 Ne 5:13). I can do this!

I had a rougher day yesterday than most. I had to sleep at another house since S Moody needed to have a bunch of mtgs and other things were going on. I didn't get breakfast, I forgot my nametag, and I was companionless. A bunch of other stuff happened and I was like lifeless. But S Card cheered me up!! Luckily, we were on shift together at the VC.

Anyway, I love it here. Independence is a charming little town. the people are just waiting to hear more about Jesus Christ and I'm here to do it! I can only do it because He is on my side. Keep up your good examples to your friends and neighbors at home. I love you all and look up to you. Thanks for everything.

Luff,

Sis Roo

July 3, 2009

Sorry guys, I somehow missed blogging this letter from July 3rd. Here it is a little late!

Hey everybody!

Our schedule is different now, so our P-day is today...? I leave Wednesday morning! There are 16 of us that will be on the plane and apparently I'm in charge. Who knows? I can't wait to get out and start preachin' the word. It's hard to live at the MTC half of your life. I have SO much more respect and admiration for those people who stay her for like 12 weeks or even 8 or 9. I'm dying after 3 and a half!

VC training is really cool. It's like "Now that you've learned all this stuff, let's apply it to a visitors' center." Instead of praying at the start of a lesson, you just pray in your heart. Instead of 15 mins, you have like 2. It's so much harder!

Yesterday, we had our first practice. They set up a room like a pretend VC with pictures and displays (Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, Temples, etc.), and we took people on a mini "tour". It was SO beyond difficult! They are members of the community who volunteer to be nonmembers. How do you explain the purpose of Temples in 2 minutes instead of 2 hours? I have no idea. I had a rough time trying to transition from one topic to the next and I forgot pretty much everything they had taught us. At the end, we were able to talk with the person. My darling girl had actually served in Independence. What are the chances? I bet I slaughtered the part about Liberty Jail. She talked to each of us who are going to Missouri afterward. She got me so excited to leave!

We taught a second time. It went much better. I could feel the Spirit a lot stronger. I remembered to testify at each display. It was so awesome! She was able to share her feelings about the Atonement. It was so great! It was definitely one of those things where you are absolutely terrified at first, but by the end you do not want to end. The second volunteer actually served in the Temple Square mission. She gave me lots of feedback! She said she actually liked it when she would get all frazzled with her words, then she would say, "Did that make sense? No?" Then Heavenly Father would just take over. That gave me so much comfort. I am so scared of that. I have the hardest time making sentences make sense. You think you know the doctrine until you have to teach it. Cray-see.

Sis Mari Sasaki is one of my companions now. She is possibly the cutest girl I have ever met! I love Japanese people. She is just super petite and very animated- so funny, too! We are a tripanionship these days. It's weird, but cool. There's a "secret room" that only our class has access to. They have real kiosks inside and a fake christus statue thing and a plasma screen. All the church history books, DVDs, brochures and stuff are available to us. It's pretty much the coolest thing in the world!

For the 4th of July, we will be at temple square (Don't ANY of you DARE show up!). We will be paired up with a missionary there and then will proselyte all day! I can't wait. The real world! Then at night, they have a special presentation for all the MTC missionaries. My teacher gets to play Joseph Smith in the show. "Celestial Broadway" is what they're calling it. I can't wait! Then we watch the Stadium of Fire show. Yay!

It's been a weird week. Long and full of work. I have tons to learn! But I am pumped and ready. Bring it on. Thanks for your letters and packages, everyone. Love you!

-Sis Rooey

No update yet!

Sorry about the lack of updates. Roo hasn't written in a while. She wasn't able to write last week because she left the MTC for Missouri on Wednesday morning. We haven't heard from her in Missouri yet! But we're dying to know how she is doing, so hopefully she will send a letter soon! She's been there almost a week!

June 30, 2009

Hi all!

We have our p-day today, since our district of elders left this morning. Sis Card and I begin our VC (visitor center) training tomorrow. Finally! I cannot wait. It's weird having our elders leave yet we are stuck for another week. Our teacher's last bit of advice, I think, applies to each of us. He had us read Matthew Ch. 10 and then focused on verse 39, which teaches us that when we lose ourselves in the service of others, that's when we really FIND ourselves. Sis Card and I have been focusing this week on accountability. She thinks of a goal every day to accomplish (little ones like do a smalla ct of service/look for the tender mercies in your life) and we report back to her on what we did/how we felt. It's awesome! It's really hard not to get overwhelmed with all the goals you set daily, weekly, monthly, etc. So it's been fantastic to really just focus on little ones. OK, weekly report:

Thursdays aer always hard. You get tired every day, but Thursdays are just weird. It's hard not to take naps here. We went to the TRC where you teach volunteers from the community. It was closed, apparently, since there were Apostles everywhere for new mission pres week (security reasons.) Instead, we hooked up with another class and taught each other as though we were nonmembers. Sis Card and I had to teach this ridiculous elder, whom we have renamed "Mayor of Trouble City"...he is appropriately surnamed Warden in real life. Nice kid, just full of tricks. He was asking questions that were leading us right into traps. It was crazy! And you know me, I can't handle contention...so I totally lost the spirit and couldn't even form sentences. He really caught me off guard! I was prayin' my gust out to get the spirit back because if you don't have the Spirit "ye shall not teach" (D&C 42:14 meaning basically thou SHALT NOT teach=commandment!) A thought popped into my head, "Bring it back to the Savior. Testify!" So I did. It was amazing. The Holy Ghost filled the room and that elder was baffled. He (the spirit) took over and we were able to get the lesson back on track, avoiding the Mayor's contentious inquries. Yay for the Holy Ghost! Sis Card handled it all really really well. She is so awesome.

Our teacher led an amazing discussion about mercy and grace and how yes! we are saved by grace and by jesus Christ, but it's a gift that is waiting for us to receive. It's like a gift card, just waiting under the Christmas Tree. You must 1)open it 2)go to the store 3)redeem it/spend it. Christ paid the ultimate price for each of us. It's crazy how much we really do not know about the Atonement.

We also ahve this substitute that we have renamed "Brotha Hot Stuff." He is ridiculous. One time we were in the computer lab taking little "assessments" and he was sitting next to Sis Card. He put his arm on her chair. She's like "AHH! I was just on a date with Brotha Hot Stuff. In the computer lab." So funny! He always does the little smile, eyebrow thing, as if he wants to flirt? It's super gross.

They decided soccer is okay! It was the first day since the whole Swine Flu scare that they have allowed "contact sports". Of course, that's where I went during gym. I played for about half an hour, probably scoring like at least 50 times (kidding) when I hear the rudest thing in the world over a megaphone, "Sisters are not allowed to play soccer with the elders." Hmmm, I wonder who they're talking to? The only sister on the field? I dunno. I tried real hard not to be angry. Who am I supposed to play with? So...alas, I play volleyball these days.

Friday- We had a mind-boggling devotional. There were SEVEN apostles present: Oaks, Holland, Christofferson, Cook, Perry, Bednar, Andersen. I sang in the choir, where we performed, "Joseph Smith's First Prayer". I totally cried. it was so powerful! Elder Holland spoke. Ho-ly smokes. We need the Holy Ghost to be our 3rd companion (in a marriage, friendship, mission). Here are some things he said that really struck me: Yes, it would be great to have God, the Eternal Father present in every lesson with investigators. Yes, it would be great to have Jesus Christ our Savior in the room during Gospel Doctrine Class, but that is not the plan. We are not alone, though. We take with us God, the Testator. The Holy Ghost needs to be there every time. An investigator's eyes will tell you everything you need to know about where the lesson needs to go. If you allow the HG to be your 3rd companion, the Godhead will begin to bear testimony of YOU. They will allow a portion of their unity. At the end of his talk, he said "Welcome to the work of angels" and I swear the Spirit was audible. It was like "BBBBKKKPSH" -you know how they use the phrase "great rushing of water"? Totally. I leaned over to my roommate and said, "I think I have been shot." I was so stunned by his words. No one made a sound. He is an Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ! The Savior lives! He is the literal Son of the Eternal God and will do what HE promises, if we will only follow His commandments. He established His Church on the earth and it was been established again. I can bear strong witness of that.

Like I said, ho-ly smokes :)

Saturday was the 165th anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. We had a powerful lesson on what prophets in the past have gone through to get us the scriptures (see 2Ne 29). I feel like such a jerk when my biggest challenge is not falling asleep during personal study. Our teacher, Andrew Smith (yes, related to Joseph) had us write a letter to the prophet Joseph. D&C 135 is probably my new favorite section. It's John Taylor's account of what happened when Joseph and Hyrum were killed.

Sunday- Relief Society at the MTC is like General Conference. Last time, we had Pres Monson's daughter, Ann Dibb. This time, we had Elder Russell M Nelson's wife, Wendy. She needs to be a stand up comedian or something. We were laughing so hard! She got talking about tape recorders and was like "Do you even know what that is? yes, I rode to school on a dinosaur." She talked about how she received an answer from the Lord that she wasn't supposed to marry the man she was engaged to in her twenties. 34ish years later, she married an Apostle. Who is this woman? Straight to the Celestial Kingdom, I tells ya.

Some elders from our branch (so like our ward of 50 or so) had the opportunity to serve the sacrament to the First Presidency and 11 out of the 12 Apostles. Ahh! They are NEVER all in the same place like that, in public. Even during General Conference they are not all there. They said that will never happen again, pretty much. Wow! Our roommate, Sara Driggs got to sing in a special choir for them. Can you imagine? 14 out of 15 prophets, seers and revelators, all in the same little room?

We study in the Garden of Eden all the days now. It's back behind the MTC and it's so gorgeous! Changed my life :)

I still cannot believe I am on a mission. I had a dream last night that you (mom and dad) came to get me. You forced me in the car and drove away. I was so upset! "Where is my companion? Where is my nametag? I can't listen to the radio. Turn it off!" So...please don't do that to me. I love it here. I pray every day for the people in Missouri, for their hearts to be prepared for my message. I love you all. Thanks for your letters and packages (raspberries? Who does that? I am loved!)

God lives! (I can say that phrase in Russian now)

-Sister Rooey Adamson

June 24, 2009

On Friday, we're having a special devotional. Rumor has it, President Monson is the speaker. They have changed things aruond, which I think is funny. Like, they put a bunch of fake trees in the hallways and have extra furniture set up for the Apostles and new Mission Presidents. So, starting this weekend there will probably be all sorts of Mormon celebrities around here!

Sister Card and I keep having crazy experiences in the RC (where you call people). First is Diane. She's super interested in what we have to say and wants us to call back next week. One slight bump in the road -she is disabled. We think she's autistic. We asked her to repeat back Joseph Smith's Story and she starts telling us all about her cat, Boots. The best part, though, was when Sis. Card said "It would be so great to get the missionaries over. They can answer any of your questions about Jesus or Heavenly Father." And sweet, darling Diane goes, "Well, I have a question for you. Do you watch C.S.I. Miami?" Oh. My. Word. Luckily, my headset was muted because I burst out laughing!! She went on to tell us her celbrity crushes, including Chuck Norris and Billy Ray Cyrus. So funny! She's an older woman, from Iowa I think. So so funny.

The other day, our teacher started talking about how proud Jesus Christ is of us, how much He loves us, etc. I reached up to touch my nametag and gasped! I had forgotten to put it on that morning! I felt so naked. You don't understand. I only get 18 months (now almost 17) to wear that over my heart. We left class immediately to go get it. Man, it was weird.

For our service project this week, we were late (it's so hard! You have to BE there at 6:30am, which means you must be awake before then.) The only thing they could think of to do was to dust the railings by the stairs. Umm, one thing, though. They're OUTdoor. Dusting the dust. "While we're at it, should we also hit up the cement? Perhaps the bricks as well?" We were giggling our hearts out. We saw some elders later whose job was to wipe off some glass and Sis. Card is like, "You think that's service?" And I was like, "Yeah, try vacuuming the grass!"

Last P-day while writing letters, I realized I didn't have my journal in my bag anymore. I panicked when I realized the last time I had it was in the emailing room. We dropped everything and ran! You now me and my journal. All the rooms in that building look the same and so it took a while to find it, but it was there! Whew! Then I got a little freaked when I saw it was open and someone (if not many) had been reading it. Yikes. Now 2,000 missionaries know Sis Adamson's deepest secrets. Tender Mercy.

Funny quotes from my district:

"And how do we find the answer to that?" -Bro Carlson
"Prayer.com" -Elder Whitney
"Actually, it's dot org." -Elder Bright

"So, after the resurrection, people who had laser hair removal are gonna be like, 'What gives?'" -Elder Whitley

"Mmm, these letters taste good. My last envelopes were disgusting." -Sis Hamblin, my roommate

"I saw the cooks pouring them out of the 10ft. vat. It was an army of hot dogs." -Sis Card

The Church is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior. God loves you. Ok. Bye.
Love Sister Adamson

MTC Pictures

Here are some pictures Roo mailed to us from the first two weeks at the MTC.

"A red umbrella would bring sunshine to anyone's soul."

"First it's Swine Flu. Then it's a pork worm to the brain! Our District Pres. said we're not allowed to eat bacon anymore. As if!"

"This is our favorite nook to have companion study. I get bored while Sis. Card is in the bano."

"Sister Card is such a rockstar! I'm so blessed to have her as my companion."

"First time in the Referral Center! It was a hodge-podge of joy...and answering machines. Changin' lives already, ma!"

"Every single day I get to wear His name over my heart. It's the best feeling in the world!"

"We're gonna take over the world with otter pops!...clearly"

(Sister Card)

"I am trying hard to grow here."

"Yes, I am 5-years old. Turns out."

"Seriously, though. What is this, the circus? Awesome."

Roo's Birthday!