April 20, 2010 "Milagros up the wazoo"

Here are some Spring Pictures of the VC. It was the Community of Christ World Conference this weekend, so our parking lot kept getting full of cars who were there for the conference. Thus the sign "No auditorium parking". But they still did.

Popcorn popping on the apricot trees!

Hi Everyone,

It's been such a terrific week. We were able to see a miracle of somehow teaching 22 lessons! Out "full pros" in Kansas with a million hours, it was very achievable, but when you only have like 4 hours a day to proselyte and some of those hours are filled with language study and meetings, it can be rough. But we did it! We also were able to invite a nice woman to be baptized. We watched The Restoration with her and she said she got her answer. So great! Also this weekend is the baptism of the Alvarez family. I'm so excited! They are darling. It's a mom and two kids. They've been coming to all the meetings and church activities.

Other than that, I don't really know what to say. I feel like this week has been full of amazing miracles. This woman that the sisters baptized last transfer suddenly went against the church and asked not to be contacted last month. Then out of the blue, she called bishop and said she wants visits again. So we'll be seeing her in the next few days. Also it feels like everyone we talk to lately is interested to learn more. It's kind of frustrating, though, when we are visiting a Spanish-Speaking family who isn't in our boundaries and one of their neighbors wants to learn. If they speak English, we have to pass them over to the sisters who cover that area. Does that make sense? Basically, we cover the entire stake, Sp-speaking, but can only teach Eng in our ward boundaries. Anyway, so we've been getting lots of referrals lately for the other sisters.

Uhh, the language is slowly coming. I've been working on memorizing scriptures and hymns in Spanish.

Here is a question for all of you: Is there a list somewhere or a way I can look up the Spanish equivalent to an English hymn? Like, to look up "I stand all Amazed", I had to check the scripture at the bottom and then look up in Spanish. Is there an easier way? I would love that.

Seems I've hit a writer's block. Here is something neat a brother said in sacrament meeting on Sunday:

"They are just simple words in a paper book, but if we apply them to our lives, we will see miracles." - Hno Hernandez

How true. As we make time for the scriptures every single day of our lives until the day we die, we will come to recognize the voice of the Lord better, easier. We will then see His hand in more things...it's always there, but we just don't see it sometimes. The words of the prophets mean the world to me. Here is a man who communicates with God. Directly. And He is writing down what God says? That's amazing! Read it! Do what he says. You will see miracles.

This is God's work. The scriptures are His words. Let us be His hands on earth. Be an instrument this week. Do something different.

Love you dearly,

Hermana Roo Adamson

ps did anyone look up Rolling Turtle's music on Youtube? He's the bomb.

April 13, 2010

** sorry for the delay. This one is a week late. Roo didn't give any explanations of the pictures but I'm sure if you read her letters they will make more sense. -andrea

Hi Friends, Family and random people who read this!

T* K* got baptized! He is the most amazing 18-year old I have ever met. He is going to be the best missionary in the history of the world. So I got to go down to Mound City to experience his baptism. I loved it. I loved every second of it. I'm pretty sure he is going to be an Apostle someday. :)

We have a darling Hispanic family that is preparing for baptism. The mother came to the Visitors' Center yesterday and had an incredible spiritual experience. I know she (and her children) have been prepared by the Lord to, not just accept, but fully live all of the commandments. She is addicted to the scriptures and has been responding to spiritual promptings. We love them so much and are so excited to see them progress!

I got attacked last night by Sister Smith and companions. Nerf gun. Little did they know I would fight back! Then I found out they had taken a video of the whole thing. I wish I could put it on here. It was hilarious. Who says you can't have fun while serving a mission?

E. Cisternas and I gave talks in church on what we learned in Conference. I love giving talks. It was a lot of fun. I talked about how Heavenly Father answers our prayers when we are specific. Well, all the time, but it's more obvious when...oh, I don't know how to explain.

Community of Christ is having their big World conference this weekend. They are voting on some interesting topics. I am so grateful to know that President Monson and his counselors and the quorum of the 12 are men called of God, men who receive revelation for the entire Church. The entire world. I know they will never beat around the bush or tell us what we want to hear. They are prophets, meaning they will tell us Truth. 100% Truth.

We met with our bishop last p-day to talk about ways the ward can work more closely with the missionaries. It was so good. An issue in this ward is that most of the members are converts, some very very recent. And there are not many people who can train others in their new callings. So it's been interesting. What a difference from what I grew up in--families who have been members of the church since the 1800s. I love it out here.

I want you all to know that I love you. I know Christ's Church has been restored. This is it. Do whatever you can to tell people about it.

Hermana Adamson

PS My new favorite artist is a man who goes by Rolling Turtle. He is a delegate for the Comm. of Christ. He plays the mandolin. Look up his stuff. He is rad!! I gave given him 2 tours now at the VC. He sang to us and played his mandolin. Best day of my life.

April 6, 2010 "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

Last Preparation Day, we went to the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) building to get a tour. It was really neat! The man bore an incredible testimony of the converting power of the Book of Mormon. I love that people are attracted to truth no matter where it is. I wish he would accept the fullness of the Gospel instead of part.

Our church building. Can you see downtown in the background? I wasn't sure. Anyway. Big fence outside.

Easter! A combination of my gifts. Yay! Thanks, mom!!!

Hi Everybody!



I just got the greatest news! Mound City is having a baptism of a young man Sister Hafen and I taught. The first time we taught him was a church tour at the stake center where we would meet for our district meetings in Paola. Yay for member missionaries! It never would have worked otherwise. Someone had referred this boy's dad, but he gave us the cold shoulder. But because of a faithful member, our dear friend Karesa, he will now be a member of Christ's church and ready to make more covenants that will help him return to live with God. Man, I love missionary work.

As far as Riverview, Sister M and I have made working with the ward more of a priority. We gave some Easter gifts to our bishop and his family and will be spending some time with him this evening to be sure we are on the same page. We plan to get a list going of families the bishop would like us to focus on (pretty much every other ward has one but ours). It's quite a task with the language barriers in the ward, but it's the Lord's way, so it will work. Our bishop is American, our ward mission leader is Hispanic and the other auxiliaries are a little of both.

The language is still pretty much impossible. Good thing that with God all things are possible! Sister M's Spanish is Puerto Rican and I'm used to Mexican, so it's an adventure to follow along with what she is saying. Plus, we're both more comfortable speaking English so we forget to practice Spanish. It's really hard feeling like I have no time to practice.

Other wonderful news!! Sister Melanie Smith, that I played rugby with at Utah State and went to the MTC with, etc. is coming to be in a trio in my house! There are 3 sets of sisters in the house I live in and she will be in the room right next door. Woohoo!! It will be like a slumber party every night. She is my favorite.

I had this tour the other day with a family where the mom was super against the church. She made sure to tell me right up front that she disagreed with everything taught in the Book of Mormon, whatever. She and her daughter escaped downstairs while I was talking to the dad. I followed her and just talked. Turns out, she has had a really rough life, with all sorts of abuse, health problems, etc. and was mad at God. I tried to give her a hug, but she just stiffened and awkwardly chose not to touch me. We talked about faith and repentance and how to be truly happy. I made sure not to "preach at" her and she really opened up. She just needed a friend to talk to. At the end, a few sisters joined me to sing "Where Can I Turn For Peace?" It touched her heart and she cried a little. At the end, she went to leave, turned back around and gave me a hug. She whispered thank you in my ear and said she needed that. I love the power of the Holy Ghost. He can change lives, change attitude, change behavior for the better. I know He can cleanse us from anything worldly, dirty or just unhappy. All we have to do is realize how prideful we are and let God change us.

This has been quite an interesting week for me. I'm trying very hard to understand what is going on in Spanish lessons. I was talking to another sister about my frustrations with the language and she said something so profound. "Just as someone's sight is improved when they lose their hearing, so your Spiritual ability to communicate will be fine-tuned because you can't express yourself in words." I am putting my trust in that for now and I am grateful for this chance Heavenly Father is giving me to speak "Spirit" a little better. My heart has been pricked and I am ready to stop being so prideful.

I have now taken 2 tours at the VC in Spanish. It's that busy! We had our first bus tour come in, and I got to take them. I love the Summer months, but it means I won't be able to study with my VC time anymore. Back to Wheat Thins cracker lunches.

My favorite part of General Conference was when I had a question answered during Elder Holland's talk on pornography. It was hilarious to me because, of course, my question had nothing to do with his topic. I got my answer through the Spirit, not through the words he was saying. Again, funny how that works. I also felt really weird watching the Orem Institute choir. I felt like I should have been in that or something. I'm so close but so so so far away.

Welp, this feels su-uper long, so I will let you go. Know that I am doing well. Know that you can get help only as you ask for it. Be specific in your prayers and God will be specific in His answers.

Love you,

Hna. Adamson