Elder Harrison Adams 6/13/16 Morehead City, NC

Family and Friends,

This week was a very successful week for us! We were able to find a lot of new investigators, in fact I believe we found more this past week than the whole time me and Elder Gibb have been together combined! We also had the chance to teach lots of people, and had two investigators at church! Alex and Chris. We may have to talk with Chris a little bit though, because he is very loose with his language. I've never heard the f-word in a church building ‘til now. I heard it about 15 times haha! Bless his heart. 

The weather here has gotten pretty warm. Whenever we take off our shoulder bags, your shirt is stained yellow from all the sweat! So we've been having to do laundry almost daily. Also there are bugs everywhere. I've never seen so many bugs in my life! They also have a bad habit of sneaking into our apartment. This morning I killed 13 different spiders that were all on our ceiling. 

Not too much has changed here. We are working hard. And enjoying ourselves! There is truly nothing greater than serving the Lord. Putting all of your time, thoughts, and efforts into bringing His children closer to His gospel. I know that this church is true and that we all have a part in this great work.

Much love,

Elder Adams 

Zone meeting

Elder Harrison Adams 6/6/16 Morehead City, NC

Family and Friends,

With the summer starting, we are really taking a beating here! The temperature hasn't been too bad. Normally in the middle of the day it's in the low 90's. But the catch is the humidity! The second you walk from a cold building to the outside all of the oxygen form your lungs is just sucked right out! Me and Elder Gibb have been sweating lots, because we aren't used to this weather yet. Also hurricane season has officially started. Last week we got hit pretty hard with a tropical storm. I don't know if I've ever seen rain coming down so hard in my life! Sadly, with all the humidity and rain, that means more mosquitoes. I've kind of just gotten used to it now. But we get pretty covered in mosquito bites. 

Other than the heat and bugs, this week was fairly normal! Last Monday night we ate at the Willis house. We were surprised when Brother Willis asked for our phone numbers back home. So we gave them to him. Then he just picked up his phone and called our homes! He stepped out of the room so we didn't hear, but he sat and talked to our parents for a little while haha! But we love the Willis family. They always make sure we are taken care of. 

We also had exchanges with the District Leader so I stayed the day up in Havelock. It's really great to do with other missionaries and learn from them.

Alex came to church again. He's been now it feels like a million times. But he's still not considering baptism. Sometimes being a missionary is frustrating, but it also teaches you patience. 

Last week we went to Fort Macon again, for Memorial Day. We said goodbye to Elder Johnsen, and got Elder Ray. He started his mission here in Morehead City and has come back now to finish his mission here. Everyone in the ward says the same will happen to me haha.

With it being summer, our church attendance has about doubled! We see lots of new people and new phases. Sometimes it's hard to tell if it's a less active member that came to church or just a visitor! Well, with it being summer, I thought I'd give y'all a quick list of how to not look like a tourist this year if you plan of coming to the East Coast! Because the locals can't stand tourists haha!

1. Never drive under the speed limit. This is the #1 reason why locals hate tourist! They say it's safe to drive 7 miles over, but as a missionary I don't think I should solicit speeding....so at least go the speed limit!
2. Don't wear your flip flops unless you're going to the beach! It's one of the easiest ways to spot a tourist, and also dangerous! A member at the hospital said that right now, 90% of people coming in our tourists who have slipped and gotten foot injuries from wearing flip flops.
3. Sun burns. Another easy way to look like a tourist is to come here and just get burned! Typically the locals take care not to get burned. 
4. Boogie boarding. If you go boogie boarding be sure to put one hand on the front of the board and your other hand on the side. You have more control and movement. Holding on to both sides is another way to look like a tourist. 
5. Bringing clutter to the beach. The people around here just bring their boards or a ball. All of the other clutter isn't necessary! They also don't bring towels to the beach. They leave them in their cars. 
6. Don't shop at surf shops on the beach. Typically prices there are about double what you can find for the same product a little farther inland! 

Well hope y'all enjoy your trips this summer! 

Love, Elder Adams

Harrison and Elder Gibb at the Willis/Clifton home

Harrison enjoying cake at the Willis/Clifton home

Harrison and Elder Gibb at the Willis/Clifton home

Fort Macon on Emerald Isle

Manning the cannon at Fort Macon

Elder Harrison Adams 5/30/16 Morehead City, NC

Family and Friends,

This week has been a good week. Lot a whole lot has happened. We did have transfers, but me and Elder Gibb are just staying for this next transfer. All in all I'll have just about 6 months here in Morehead City after this transfer ends! It's crazy how fast time passes sometimes.

But like I said, not a whole lot has happened. We did help a member move. He lived on Emerald Isle and after helping him we were able to go look at the beach. It was fun to think that we used to vacation just a few miles North of where I was then standing! 

Something I've really been working on this past week is always keeping a good attitude. It's not always easy. A mission isn't easy. Life isn't easy. And it is very easy sometimes to become discouraged. But as I've tried to be more positive, even when things don't go well, I've found life to be a lot lighter. It's easier to feel the Spirit, and just everything about it is better!

It's always a comfort to know we have a loving Father. Even though sometimes we feel like we are nothing, we are invaluable to Him. I'm so grateful for all your prayers. This is a wonderful chance I have to serve the Lord, and I cherish every minute.

Much Love,

Elder Adams

Beach on Emerald Isle

Willis Family

Emerlald Isle

 

Elder Harrison Adams 5/23/16 Morehead City, NC

Family and Friends,

This week was a lot better than the past one! We were able to get quite a bit done. And also were able to find quite a bit of success. An exciting thing is that we got two investigators to come to church—Alex and Chris. They both enjoyed it and aren't afraid to make comments. Probably half of the comments in our Priesthood hour were made by them!

I'm trying to think what else has happened this week...last p-day we went over to Down East. There we rode bikes on Front Street, Beaufort. We were also able to have our exchanges. I went up to Havelock and had the fun chance to ride bikes in the pouring rain! It was pretty fun, but when we got home we were soaked to the bone. We had to throw all our clothes in the dryer before we could finish planning for the next day. 

I have a strong testimony that the Lord gives us tender mercies. When we are feeling down, or when we just need a little boost, He will be there to help us. I've seen many tender mercies through my mission so far, and most of them have come when I most desperately needed them. I have a testimony about our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. That he suffered for us and took upon Himself our pains and griefs, and that He is never far away. In fact, He's closer than we think. All of have to do is look for Him.

I hope y’all have a great week full of lots of laughter. Sometimes life is hard, but a little laughing and smiling here and there will go a long way! Love y’all much!

Elder Adams 

Cupcake the Spanish Missionaries were given from a little girl.

Marshes

Bridge construction

Elder Adams at the waterfront.

Morehead City ward members.

Elder Harrison Adams 5/16/16 Morehead City, NC

Family and friends,

This week has been a really hard week. Luckily he had the chance for lots of service opportunities, but other than that nothing was falling for us this week! We knocked on lots of doors, tried to see lots of people, and they were all either "ocupado" "cocinando" or "comiendo" (busy, cooking, or eating). If I hear those words again I might blow a gasket in my head...all in all we were only able to teach four lessons this week. Which for this mission is incredibly low. I've never had a week with so much failure and disappointment yet on my mission. 

Luckily though we did have the service opportunities. The first, we went over to a lady’s house who had recently moved. I'm not quite sure why we were cleaning her house or her relation to the church...but it was filthy! When you walked in the house it felt like you got punched by a wall of stench! And then me and Elder Gibb were carrying a box out, when several rats jumped out and ran off! Cockroaches? Yep. There were lots of those too. Anywho. We ended up moving out all the furniture, and tearing up the carpet. We mopped the whole house, cleaned off the walls, and ended up putting in new carpet. The thing I really love about my mission is that it has taught me how to do lots of repairs around a house. I know how to put shingles on the house now, put up sheetrock and paint, tear up and put in new carpet, and how to put in counters! Who says that you only learn spiritual things on your mission?

The other service we did was for a marathon walk/run for autism awareness. It was on Front Street in Beaufort. Our job was to turn cars around who were going to Front Street and tell them they had to go another way. Well, all the other streets got cones, a little fence barricade, or a police officer. But on our street it was just me and Elder Gibb, wearing t-shirts and shorts. We had just come from exercising so we didn't have time to change to our proselites. Maybe if we were dressed up in our shirts and ties people would have listened to us a little more! When we told people they had to go another way, they weren't always too happy. We were almost hit twice by cars just slamming on the gas after and some people had very select words to tell us. It was always funny though to see that same car turn around and drive back up the street, after they realized that it would be impossible to turn farther down! 

This week we also had a great chance to have a specialized training with President and Sister Baker. We had three different workshops where we talked about different aspects of our health. Physical, emotional, and spiritual. For the physical workshop we mostly talked about animals that can kill you here in North Carolina. Spiders, snakes, and all those fun things. For the emotional section we talked about what type of emotion we are. I guess there are four different colors that define the motives of someone. Red=Power Blue=Intimacy White=Peace Yellow=Fun. We took a test and I scored to be a white, with blue being a close second. Finally, we met with President Baker and talked about how we can become spiritually self-reliant on our missions, and how that's going to carry on for the rest of our lives. He also told us, that although we are away from school and things such as that for two years, we will come back and be a lot better off than if we had just gone to school.

After all the workshops we had an Oompa Loompa activity with the whole zone. Even President Baker and his wife played with us. Actually, President Baker hit a half-court shot with one second left to end the game. Everyone went crazy. 

Well that's really all that's been going on this week. I hope you are all doing well and know that I love you all so much!

Elder Adams

Elder Harrison Adams 5/9/16 Morehead City, NC

Family and Friends,

This week was a really good week. Of course the highlight was talking to my family and Hannah. I love them all so much! Also happy late Mother's Day to all of the moms out there. 

I don't have a whole lot to write this week. Not much has happened. We've been looking real hard for new people to teach with little success at this point. Church went really good. They had a special brunch for all of the mothers and they all enjoyed that.

This week though we were able to find one new investigator. His name is Kevin and he is from El Salvador. He has been here about 6 months but speaks really good English. We taught him mostly in English because he wants to practice speaking, but there were a few times that we had to make some clarifications in Spanish. For example, we were talking about Prophets and he thought we were talking about prophesy.  But the lesson went really well and he has a baptismal date, so we're hoping we can get him to come out to church next week. 

There are many things I have learned out here on my mission. I've learned how to listen, both to people and to the Holy Ghost. I've learned how to love anyone, no matter the circumstances. How to speak Spanish…and so many more great things! I'm grateful for this chance I have to serve my Lord and God. I love you all very much! 

Love,

Elder Adams

Skyping with Elder Adams on Mother's Day.

Elder Harrison Adams 5/2/16 Morehead City, NC

Family and Friends,

This week has been a good week! As always, I enjoy the work here. Especially getting to know the members and Hispanic people here. I was reflecting this week back before my mission, and I've found some funny changes. I wasn't always the most social person before my mission, especially when it came to talking to someone over the phone or someone new. Well, that no longer phases me at all! Sure you run into quite a few mean people, but I've come to realize on my mission that people are generally good in nature. Also I find it funny that I used to be a picky eater. I would stay away from beans, broccoli, you name it! Well. I love beans, broccoli, and pretty much anything you put in front of me! So it was fun for me to reflect on those changes that I've seen so far on my mission. 

Other events that happened this week. I went on exchanges with Elder De Mie, who came into the mission about three weeks ago. It was fun because this was the first time on an exchange that I was the oldest one (mission age). I also got to drive the car. For the second time in 9 months. Of course, Elder De Mie, being an English missionary, didn't speak a lick of Spanish. People would ask him questions, and he had no idea. It's weird to think that I can speak another language and communicate in a different way, but say the same thing. We had a really good time together. 

One other cool thing that happened was that we got two new investigators from a member referral! Perfecto Zapata, who works at a Hispanic restaurant, is always giving us new people to teach. He shares the gospel with anyone he can. So Sunday after church he told us he had some friends he wanted us to teach, right then. So we went with him and taught a little family. I can see this particular family doing really well with the lessons. 

Well, that's really most of the news for this week! I love being a missionary and know that I am doing the Lord's work. I love this scripture in 3 Nefi 11:11 where it says, "And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." Jesus Christ is the perfect example, because He was the perfect follower. He followed His Father's will, and we can strive to do the same as we follow the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Love,

Elder Adams

I've included here a few pictures of the exotic wildlife in Morehead City, North Carolina!