Jan. 25, 2016: Climbing the Mountains -- Transfer 10, Week 3 -- Finding, Waiting on the Lord

No people to teach. It kind of sucks. But it's okay. Honestly, it
hasn't been all that bad of a week. We're doing some good member work
and trying to find some new people. Frustration is there, for sure.
But life goes on, right? :) I would filter this stuff, to try and make
it sound more positive, but I want to be genuine when I right you
guys, so I hope it's ok that I put my real feelings on. Haha it's ok,
I'm still happy!

I guess, to start off with, Charles, our one solid ami or investigator
(when I say ami it is the French word for investigator), called and
said he had enjoyed his time with us and such, but due to a hard
lesson or two we had had with him, where he was very offended because
of a member who spoke in a brusque, sort of angry way with him during
a lesson. He was, in the end, very offended by that, although we
didn't really know about that immediately. He called us and said he
didn't want to come to church on Sundays anymore, but that he was all
right with seeing us now and then. So we basically worked it out to
this: he's going to Quebec, Canada for a vacation for two or three
weeks, we'll give him a break for then, and then we'll try and contact
him after, he said he was ok with maybe being taught after and stuff.
It is pretty sad to see, his story of being brought to the church by
the hand of God was so inspiring and touching, and he knew it was
real, he knew it was where he belonged. It is pretty sad to see that.
But we'll be working with him. It honestly wouldn't surprise me if he
didn't want to talk to us again, as he hasn't responded to a couple
texts we've sent, but if not, oh well.

I'm going to talk about something positive for a second, because I
know I can be a very depressing person or that I can say stuff that
just makes everyone sad all the time. But I HAVE FAITH, and I LOVE A
GOD who loves us all, and who is more powerful than anything or anyone
else on earth. I've had a couple real jerks, I run into opposition all
the time, but IT DOESNT STOP ME. and IT NEVER WILL, blast it! I AM A
FIERY SPIRIT. I do not just QUIT. I have decided to serve this
mission, and serve it I will! So to anyone who might be reading this
who thinks God has given up on them, or that there's no way back, or
whatever other false discouraging message Satan is putting in your
life, wake up, turn around, realize that God is calling you and
speaking the positive truth to you, and there IS a way back. you've
got to wake up your true self to really see this. I spent my whole
life of 19 years trying to just get through, to just go through the
motions, to just do as little as I could do. It wasn't until just a
couple weeks ago that I realized, somewhat, how much more was
available when I really tried and gave my heart. So I would just like
to invite all the powers of hell and evil and darkness to come
crashing down. Do I care? Do I look like I care? No. Not one bit. God
will protect us. God's work will roll forth. And I will do my part of
it in France.

Love you all lots. Sorry I can't say more, FHE now.

January 18, 2016 - Adam's short, happy letter

Hey guys!! :)

So I am here in the church with four other elders, just typing my
emails away. I wanted to give you a good email this week so I will do
my best. :)

So this week, we had a GREAT mission conference, boy it was great. I
loved it. Elder Kearon spoke to us. It was so great. I basically
learned how to wake up and prime motivation. I made a couple goals,
such as "attacking" the day, and getting to bed on time. I pride
myself on being an intense, time-bound missionary, and waking up on
time and exercising in the morning, which not everyone does in the
mission. Now, one of my goals is to really attack the morning routine,
going through it with direction and energy rather than just sort of
being really late and going through the motions. I also want to attack 10:30
bedtime as that is a hard thing for me. Haha I'm a hybrid or you
both, Mom and Dad!! :) Haha I get up early AND stay up late.

It's important to be an intense person on your mission and in life in general.

We just finished with our fhe at the church, it was great. The stls taught the lesson.

This week, we've learned a lot about finding and we've done some killer finding. The Lord has been so nice to us and He always helps us find His children when we make the commitment and go forth to work and do our best, and the best is when we do that every single day.

I love the Lord and feel that my prayers are really close to Him.

Btw, love you lots! Later!

Love Elder Edwards

January 11, 2016 - Short Video, Tons of Pics

Two time lapse videos of Adam making corn bread. Ha ha. Kinda cute. 

 Castle of Vincennes

This bridge is about 20 to 30 feet high. Good luck getting across, foot troops! haha :D Thought you would like this photo dad

This is called the king's walk. King CHarles V, King of France in the 14th century, lived in this castle, and he did a lot of things to build it up and stuff. This is apparently a high walkway the king would often take, going between two parts of the castle. 

 These paintings you see on this wall were made by prisoners in the castle--this is in the keep; the most secure part in the castle. It's like in Lord of the Rings, the Two Towers, when they draw back to the safer part. Same building.

Holy cow, this lock was SO HUGE!!! Look at that bolt! What it lacks in refinement it makes up for in sheer size!!

The beautiful Catholic chapel INSIDE the castle walls

This is the honorary grave of a prince of France who was unjustly killed but then whose remains  were recovered and put in this very case. Pretty cool, huh? Lots of symbolism. I loved the armor and arms below the people.

This little view is looking out a peephole. Archers could shoot down from here. Just what it would look like looking down into the castle courtyard from the keep's stairs. 

Mom's little note to me on christmas package :) love ya mom

Jan 4, 2015 Letter - Adam is staying in Paris

Sister Hill, being held up by the other sisters, is on our stake and she's coming home this week! I'm excited to attend her homecoming and hear all about their mission!

 These two pictures are from our new year party at the family Blaterons house, a great member family. We got special permission to have all eight of us missionaries, more than half of our district. It was so much fun! We got to watch a movie with gospel values so we watched Walter Mitty. 

So here is just a little update from this week.

Monday We had a great pday. We tried to go see organs in a town by
Paris, but no dice. However we will keep trying, but it is hard to
make it work all of a sudden, so my motivation for it is kind of
falling. That night we also had a good family home evening. Haha right
now we are trying to get that started up, we have only had two so far,
but the goal is that several missionary companionships or equipes go
every Monday night to provide an FHE for single members and
investigators and all members who want to come.

Other major events: we had District Meeting on Tuesday. That was
really good. Last one for the district. Half of us are leaving, seven
of the fourteen are heading out, literally one person from each
companionship. Transfers are Wednesday, so Elder Pro will be heading
down pretty much exactly to the middle of France, to Bourge. If you
are familiar with the term "Bourgeoisie," meaning upper class, or
elite class, apparently that term comes from Bourges, the city where
Elder Prodromides is going. So it is a very little town but we hope
all goes well.

I will be staying here in Nogent, [note from Becky: a suburb just outside of Paris] 
and I will be getting a new 
companion by the name of Elder Malloy. He will be the third person in
his MTC group. Elder Young, my old companion, who is in the same MTC
group as Elder Pro and Elder Malloy, Elder Young will be my new zone
leader!!! HAHA he is a GREAT kid I LOVED him as my companion.

Other than that, we got an updated draft of the ward list worked out
with the ward clerk, and we now have other lists too. It was Elder
Pros crowning work in this ward, he did a lot of less active finding,
so that is great to have the fruition of his work for four transfers
with us.

Well I do not really know what else to say. I love you all, hope you
have a great week. I sent dad a couple photos. 

Also, Mom and Dad, could you check to see if Johnson and Murphy shoes
have a two year warranty? They are supposed to be waterproof but they
aren't anymore. Dont worry my other shoes are great.

Love you so much!

thanks for the package of nerf bullets