I'll Get Baptized in Utah

Dear Family,

Another week come and gone. Monday night we went to contact a less-active, and they weren't home. So we went next door to ask if they really lived there. A man and a little girl were outside and I started thinking "could he be....?" Yes it's true, he was deaf!! And the little girl too! His name is Aiden. He confuses me. We talked about who we were and what we do, and where we were both originally from. Later when I was talking to him about baptism, he said "maybe I'll just get baptized in Utah" haha what?? I said "how about here??"

We shared with him a pamphlet and set up an appointment. When we went to the return appointment, he was like "yes, I want to get baptized"

and I told him about the Restoration and about how he can know if it's true by reading the Book of Mormon and praying, he seemed ok with that. But then when I invited him to church he said no! And when I asked to set up another appointment, he said no! Emmie, the deaf little girl (she's 8) was upset and told him she wanted us to come again, and she told me she liked me because I look like one of the teachers from the deaf school on the 2nd floor. Haha. She is the cutest deaf girl I have ever seen. I'll have to get a picture with her. She's got big eyes and glasses and curly brown hair and lots of freckles. Anyway, he didn't want to set up an appointment, because he said he's "too busy"! He told me he doesn't have a job though and he is usually home! Ok, whatever, I'm going back anyway. ;) the other thing was that when I saw him the second time, he said "I have to leave soon, can't talk long" and then he talked to us for 30 minutes!!

Gahh. Haha. We stopped by yesterday, still trying to contact their less-active neighbor, and his girlfriend was outside, Emmie's mom, and I went up to her and asked if she was Emmie's mom and she said yes, and then looked down and kept sweeping and walked away. Haha. She did not want to talk to us, because she purposely looked away before I could respond to her. Maybe they think we are Jehovah's witnesses.

BUT it still was a miracle! The other thing that was great was that a few weeks ago I really felt inspired to learn "How to Begin Teaching"

in ASL, which is basically things you can say to people to help them understand what we do and the message we share. It was a good thing I did, because I was able to use a lot of it when I met Aiden. A lot of times you have words put in your mouth of what to say to people, and I really had things just come to my hands of what to sign! The Spirit drew on the things I learned, like we are promised!

Then I met 2 more deaf people last night! Randy and Brad. Randy was visiting from Greensboro, and he is an AMAZING SIGNER. You'd think that all deaf people would be good at signing, but there are definitely some that are easier to understand than others. Randy was so good that I almost forgot he was signing.  You really feel like you're just talking. I forgot until afterwards Sister Evangelista asked what they said. Haha. Brad just moved here from Charlotte, and was less social than Randy. Randy is studying to be a deaf interpreter. He explained that he could work for Sorenson (the video relay place I'd love to work at) and how there are many deaf people that don't understand ASL or are from different countries, and he would interpret from ASL to just gestures and body language. Geez.

That'd be hard job, but he is very expressive, so I'm sure he could do it. Both are probably in their 20s to 30s. I told them we were going to try and plan a deaf activity sometime at our church. I actually haven't been planning any such activity, but I hope to ;) I'm hoping Brad will open up more and we can teach him.

Anyway. That's all the deaf news. We had interviews with President Craven this week! I usually get all nervous about interviews, but I wasn't at all this time. Before I would get nervous because the numbers I was reporting weren't that great, and actually they still aren't good, but the difference was that I realized I don't have to worry about that! I know I'm doing my best. President Craven knows that too, because when I told him about how I've been doing very well even though we haven't seen a lot of the success we would like, and he said, as if reminding me: "Sister Adams, you whitewashed the area! You started with nothing! You had to learn the area and get to know the members. I know you want to reach standards, but you really should give yourself some credit and be patient. It's going to take some time." I started thinking "That's right! I forgot that we started with nothing!" Haha. But he said a lot of really nice things. I'm even wondering if my face was blushing a little. He said Sister Evangelista is happier than ever and feels like an equal co-partner with me, and that the Bishop here is so happy with me being here and that I bring a lot of enthusiasm and energy to the area, and that I've earned the trust of my fellow missionaries and my leaders. I said that sometimes I have wondered if he or others think I'm just slacking because of the lack of progress, and he said no, he knows that I'm not just working hard but smart too, and everyone knows that too. He said he was emailing dad and said that my dad is very proud of me :) he also talked about the only way Morganton will ever grow is through convert baptisms, because people don't move in (members aren't moving into the area and increasing the membership) because the economy is terrible in Morganton, and he said people will get baptized here in the future. So that's comforting. We also talked about ways to work better with the members. I think I will be staying here longer, and I think Sister Evangelista may even stay another transfer with me!

That was definitely an answer to prayers though, because I feel like nothing is happening sometimes. And yesterday I was kind of praying in my head telling Heavenly Father that it's hard sometimes to keep being motivated all the time when no one is progressing and there hasn't been anyone baptized for 5 months in the areas I've served in, and how it would be so much easier if we could see some results. But the impression came to my mind that I need to learn this for my future, and that it will help me someday. Plus this isn't about me, and if the plan is that I just help lots of people and am not here when they get baptized, that's ok! I'm just the handmaid :) Same thing with the deaf people. Sometimes I'm thinking "why am I here if none of them are ready to accept it!" But Heavenly Father has promised that everyone will get to hear the gospel in their own tongue, so I get to help with that, too.

We are probably not going to be teaching the Hollis family anymore, which is sad. But they just aren't progressing. It really is sad to watch people not try out the gospel, or they feel that it's true and then turn away. Really, really sad! I was telling mom that even yesterday I was visiting a less-active sister that was in tears and just had a look of absolute fear in her eyes as she explained how she knows the gospel is true, but Satan keeps attacking her and tempting her to be offended at everything that is said to her by members, and it keeps her away. I couldn't help but cry with her! It really takes an act of bravery to live the gospel sometimes! I just wish somehow I could be better at helping them to be brave.

Anyway! Things really are good here. We are meeting lots of people, and I'm happy :) We are having a great time. I can't even think right now about funny things that have happened, but I'm often laughing at something!

Side note- I feel like I am getting SO tan. Which tan for me is not really tan for other people. I use  SPF 50 every day, but I'm still getting really terrible tan lines on my feet, arms, my wrist where my watch is, and my finger where my CTR ring is! Sheesh! I'm starting to look like Heather! ;) Love you all. Thanks for everything you do for me and for people around you!

Sister Adams :)