Welcome to APM: Hard but worth it...

Well things are going really well for me here. The weather is nice and Phoenix is beautiful. I am currently being very humbled however. We were finally able to move out of the Ramada Inn and into our apartment-wow! I told you last week that we "flushed"out the elders and so we overtook their apartment as well--what a mess!! I don't think the apartment had been cleaned for 3 years! (not joking!) we spent all of last Thursday cleaning...we hauled 6 huge 50 pound black garbage sacks full of stuff plus all kinds of other junk like old clothes shoes and other random things (there was even a Halloween mask!) out of there and it is still not completely cleaned.

I am having to get used to foul smells everywhere--the water that comes out of the faucet, the apartment in general especially when you first walk in and because it is so hot. Anyway, it has been interesting and very humbling. I am trying to make the best of it however and do my very best to make things clean and sanitary. That is the worst of it.

Other than that the work is going very well. I feel so tired at the end of each day because we work so hard studying, tracting, going from appointment to appointment and from meeting to meeting-it is really gratifying but it always feels like there is so much more that we could be doing...

Some of my most favorite experiences thus far--Dennis and his family and Caitlin's family. Dennis' wife joined the church a little over a year a go. She is getting ready to go through the temple. Dennis has been supportive but for some reason he just doesn't feel it is important for him. We went over on Friday and had an awesome discussion as we read 3rd Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon together. It was incredible as we each took turns reading that every person in the room was able to read exactly what they needed... The spirit was strong and Dennis to committed to read Alma 32 with his wife. We will see what happens...

I told you a little about the Caitlin's Family last week. Caitlin is 16 years old and she recently joined the church. She is on fire! What an incredible example she is! We were able to take to her mother for a bit when we visited with Caitlin this last week. Her mom is very interested in genealogy work and I feel the spirit of Elijah is very real and strong.Ü I am hoping to be able to share with her why it is so important to us so that she can see she is drawn to it because of how important it is that we all are eternal families.

Caitlin's father is another story. He seems very cold and apparently hasn't been as supportive. I felt strongly that he needs fellowshipping. A small miracle happened as a result. Last Sunday during fast and testimony meeting a gentlemen stood up and shared his testimony. I had an impression about him and Caitlin's father. I didn't know why but I felt I should speak to him. I wasn't able to talk to him last Sunday but I found out his name. Yesterday at church I spoke with him for a few minutes and asked if he knew Caitlin's family. Incredibly he told me he lives just a few houses away and has known the family for some time. His daughter and Caitlin apparently played soccer together or something. His wife and Caitlin's mother are friends as well. He didn't seem to know much about her father though. I shared my prompting last week with him and he expressed that he would see what he could do. It was all too perfect to not have been a direct prompting of the spirit. Wow! It is incredible to start to see the spirit work through you.

I know the Lord's hand is in this and in the situation with Dennis. He is preparing me to share His gospel and he is preparing those that I work with to receive it. WOW! I love the gospel and KNOW it is true!

Love,
Sister Adamson Ü