Dear family and friends,
Boy I have a lot to tell yall this
week! It’s been so much fun. I’m always on my toes that’s for sure.
So I guess I’ll just tell all of the
fun things (and scary things) that happened this week. So when I first got
here, I quickly learned that even the people that speak English don’t really
speak English. Oh also, I’ve started saying yall. It’s just a habit now and
I’ve only been here for one week. But anyways, people here have weird phrases
and expressions. Instead of saying Norfolk, they say Nah-Fick. So that took a
little while for me to get used to.
We arrived and in the first church
building we went to we found a bunch of cockroaches crawling around. Needless
to say I was thrilled. But then we got assigned to our companions, and I am
assigned with Elder Berry. He is super nice and a really good trainer. He keeps
us busy for sure, and he is teaching me everything I need to know.
So the first night we got here, we
went to go knock on doors. Well, since we are Spanish speaking Elders, that
means we go to trailer parks. Since most of the Spanish speakers are illegal,
they don’t have much money and live there. We actually got to teach someone a
lesson the second door we knocked on! Which was a miracle to me. So we did that
and went home.
Well I was sleeping that night, and
I woke up because something was touching my face. I swatted it off, shined my
flashlight, and saw a cockroach crawl into a hole in the wall. And it’s
happened to me two nights since then. So that’s pretty annoying and a little
scary.
Also I would say over half of the
people we have taught were drunk. There is a lot of beer and drugs in the
neighborhoods we go to. And the police are constantly there. And they like their
beer for sure. So going along with the drug part.
I have a really interesting story
I’m sure yall would love to hear! So me and my companion were teaching this
man, we had knocked on his door and he let us in. Well halfway through the
lesson, the door gets kicked in and police run in the room. Our investigator
pulls out a gun, fires at the police (he missed luckily) and ran into a room
and locked the door behind him. I’m not quite sure how but the police took
him into custody and off to jail. Well the police wanted to know what we
were doing there, so we told them, and it turns out he was a drug lord! They
had been tracking him down for a long time and had just found him. It’s a
shame, because he seemed really receptive. Oh well. Maybe he’ll get the chance
to hear the Gospel there!
And while we were leaving to return
to our car after this appointment, me and Elder Berry both had the feeling that
we needed to run. So we started running and didn’t know why. Well it turns out
some people (friends of the drug lord) thought we set him up. So they started
chasing us and they had metal bats! It was so scary. Luckily we made it to the
car and drove off. They managed to get one swing in but it hit the back of the
car, and left a nice little dent. So we had to talk to our mission president
about this, and we are no longer allowed in that area. But it’s fun to look
back on now. That sure got my blood pumping!
Another thing about these
neighborhoods. Lots of big dogs, with very long leashes. One dog actually ran
us down and tried to bite me, it only got my pant leg, and it left a little
rip. But I was totally fine. The dogs here aren’t that bad, but yall have to
watch out for the cats! I didn’t think cats were super mean. Well the cats here
are ferocious. On two occasions I’ve had to kick a cat just so it would stop
attacking me! They come out from under trailers swinging their paws. Usually
they can’t get you through your pants, but the first time I saw a cat (and
before my companion could warn me) I went to go pet it. And it clawed up my
hand pretty good.
Sorry this letter is all over the
place, it might be a little hard for yall to make sense of it.
Final crazy story. The other day,
when it was dark, we met this man. He was totally insane! He started talking to
us, and we were just kind of joking around, and then he said “I knew yall were
Mormons.” And we said “how?” Then he said it was because of the M in our palms.
He then showed us his palms and said that he had the number “7″ on them. Then
he said that it was because he was the seventh seal in the Bible. He said that
crash sight around area 51 was him coming to Earth. And that he came from the
planet Andromida. But he kept saying all of this weird stuff about how God
chose him and how he was better than everyone else, and how he had seen God.
And then he told us that he was created both male and female…and through other
people he would be reborn? Then he said that he could unleash the seal whenever
he wanted to, and that it would end the world. And he was totally genuine and
serious this whole time.
Well okay I’ve told enough wacko
stories, and I’m sure yall want to hear about the good ones! So we taught a boy
named Browler, he was only 18 and lived on his own, but he was super receptive.
He happily invited us to come back again and it was awesome. Also, we’ve now
made friends with almost everyone, so when we are walking around in the dark
this man named Don Rafa (who isn’t interested in our message) follows us around
to make sure we are safe.
The people here are really nice and
friendly. We only had the chance to eat at one member’s house this week, The
Martinez’s. But they were from Panama, and they fed us the best food I have
ever had in my life. I don’t remember what it was called. It was some chicken
dish, but it was delicious. The Spanish here is hard, mostly because people all
talk differently. We’ve taught people from Peru, Panema, Argentina, Chile,
Cuba, Dom. Republic, Mexico, Guatemala, and a few other places as well. The
worst are the ones from the Dom. Republic, because they cut their words in half
so I never know what they are saying. For example “para que” they say “pa que”
so it’s really hard to follow. But it’s all okay, I just need to work harder!
So yesterday was my first Sunday
here, and we have a nice little Spanish branch. There were maybe thirty people
there, if that. And because I was new, and they had very little people, I had
to say the opening prayer, bless the sacrament, share my testimony, then give a
talk on the Holy Ghost. And during the meeting when I wasn’t doing something, I
had to translate Spanish to English so everyone who spoke only English could
understand. It was hard and I didn’t do it perfect, but I sure tried! Then we
went to our Gospel Principles class, which we found out we were teaching. So we
just had to wing it in a language that I don’t even know. But it actually
turned out okay!
Well those are the events that
really took place this week. I hope yall are doing okay, and I’d love to hear
from you! I’ll include my mailing address below so yall can have it!
Elder Harrison Adams
148 Yeardley Dr.
Newport News, VA 23601
Much Love, Elder Adams
Elder Berry (companion), Elder
Edwards, and Elder Adams
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