Friday, December 25, 2015

22 Diciembre 2015 Feliz Navidad!

 My week was good! Busy, Busy, Busy! I love it! :D Oh yeah, Those packages showed up right on time! hahaha
So this past week was dedicated to the Christmas party on the 21st (Monday). My Companion and I made a cool PowerPoint and with the Hayes and the Secretaries. We got the whole room decorated and sound set up and all the works. We got tables and chairs from different stake centers.

So--WOW!!  Monday, What a great experience. We had the whole mission here and the spirit was great! My Companion and I conducted the meeting and it was awesome to be able to see some many great missionaries in one place. We had some great food, and the PowerPoint went very well. A while back we assigned all the Zones in the mission to organize a service project and take pictures. So we made a slide show from those pictures and added some music and it helped bring the spirit. 

We definitely did not go hungry---lots of great American and Costa Rican food to enjoy!

And the Stockings were hung on the wall with care-----







President spoke and shared with us a story that the Mayor of Bethlehem told him. He has been all over the place.---He lived in Israel for a while when he was teaching students at BYU-Jerusalem. Anyway,  it was really awesome I loved it. We have been able to learn show much from him and his example.
So this is the story---(true story)

He talked about a story of how there was an Arabic boy and a Jewish boy. Well, back in the day around 1940´s-ish They Jews and Arabics didn´t get along at all. But anyways it turns out that this little Jewish boy of about 7 or 8 years old was playing and got hit by a car and was pretty badly wounded and was going to die, but the Arabic boy took this Jew to the Hospital and ended up saving his life. Well, shortly after this happened the government made a giant border and separated the Jews from the Arabics. So about 20-30 years or so down the road things have worsened between these two nations and a war had begun. This young Arabic was now the mayor of a little town of a small city called Bethlehem. The city was suffering and didn´t have much of anything. Then the day came when the Jews started coming to destroy the city. Well the people freaked out and started running away and packing up. The mayor felt different and tried telling people to stay and  that everything would be okay. Well, then on the horizon they could see a group of tanks coming to destroy the city and this mayor felt that he should just start walking towards them. He didn´t know why, but he did it and as the tanks approached, he walked closer. He had know idea what would happen and then when the tanks were close, he saw the general´s tank hesitate and stop. The mayor got a little scared and wondered what might happen,  and then the hatch popped open and a man got out and started running towards the mayor. By now the mayor was really worried, but he held his ground and then the man from the tank reached him and gave him a good look and gave him a giant hug! The mayor, surprised and alarmed, suddenly realized that this man was that same little Jewish boy whose life he had saved years earlier. The Jew was now one of the head generals and did not know that the Arabic was the mayor of the city. The Jew eagerly said to him( the Arabic) and the other soldiers, we are not going to destroy this city! What do you need for your city! Tell me and it´s yours! Thus the city received many provisions and in the long run of things, it was the only city that survived the war.
------------

So, moral of the story, President went on to talk to us about how we have no idea how what we do now can and will affect our future. One small act of charity years earlier saved a city. We as members of the church sometimes get this notion in our heads that to be good missionaries we have to do something great and be like Peter and baptize thousands. We don´t know the outcome of our simple obedience. By small and simple things--Alma 37:6.  Now, I speak to you my family and friends and say the same thing. Talking to that one person that is struggling about the message of the gospel may seem very small, but it has the potential to become something very big.

-------------------------------------
We also had a baptism on Saturday. Yuliana was baptized. She is awesome and has been to church a bunch with her mom. her mom wants to be baptized as well but they need to get married first so we are working with that and the dad.



Tomorrow we have a ward Christmas party and me and my companion are going to sing o holy night.

Then on Friday I will skype you guys from the mission office computer. I will let you meet the Secretaries and my comp. Have some questions ready.
Anyways! Have a great Christmas!!!


Elder Caleb M. Adams

Monday, December 21, 2015

Happy Diciembre! -- 14 Diciembre 2015

Anyways life is good. The mission is getting there. I have a lot of hope and faith in the mission that here in a few months we are going to see some big changes! My companion was going to go leave and train his last change, but due to the license situation he will be staying with me and finishing his mission here in the office until February.

President is the best! Today our office meeting went way longer than normal like about 3 and a half hours long, haha But I love him I learned a lot! We had a great Leadership meeting with the Zone Leaders but the power went out just before we started... and then we were trying to figure out what to do. How to somehow get the power back on. Our mission President said don´t worry about it. It will come back on. You need to know that the thing is, here in Costa Rica, sometimes the power can go out for a full day and they won´t get it back on. So anywho.... My Companion and I talked with all the Zone Leaders and then just when we needed the Projector for all the hours of Preparation that we had down to show this cool power-point and teach the mission. The Power kicked back on!!! Perfect Timing....The Lord's timing! .....

One Day we got to the area at like 5 because of the leadership meeting and then had some things we had to do. We had some incredible lessons planned! We got there and they said, oh man its just I haven´t arrived home yet. and we said that's fine we have a Back up plan and then those peopel couldn´t either and so then we followed these great plans and no one would open the door. We talked with everyone with power and testifying with the Spirit but no one. Well 8:20 pm came around and still not one lesson that whole day. Not even a new investigator. We were praying in our hearts to know where to go or what to do. We knew we needed to act fast, becasue here in Costa Rica at 8 everyone goes to bed because at 5:30 it gets dark. So its a terrible time to find new people. Anyways long story short. We walked down a street on our way to another house and then I felt the strong impression to talk with some people and we started teaching them of the Lord Jesus Christ there in their door step and then a few more people came to listen and then a few more and then we ended up finding 8 new people there and they all asked for a Book of Mormon and wanted to learn more. The Lord helps those who are obedient to his work.\

Well I love you all! I hope you have some great Holidays! I will take some Pics and get them sent next week! :)

Elder Caleb Adams

Here are some pictures:

This is my familia!
My Trainer, Elder Gomez, with Elder Jones who is now being trained by Elder Gomez. So that makes me and Elder Jones brothers haha. This is in the office when we announced who the companionship's would be with President.




Friday, December 11, 2015

7 Diciembre 2015

This week was crazy... I went to the Airport 3 times and we did a lot of work bringing in new missionaries and sending out out the old missionaries. Wednesday was changes day. So we had to make a cool Power Point presentation. Then on Wednesday, about half of the mission showed up. I gave the welcome and we sang and then we heard from President a bit. and Then I explained how things were going to work. and then I announced the new areas and companions as each companionship came up on the Power Point. It was awesome. A lot different from the last time but, the energy that was in the room was awesome and the missionaries really loved it. I would announce it first, and then I would show the next slide.
I also got to be there with my Trainer Elder Gomez., from my first area--Esparza.   He got assigned to train again and so I got to be there to announce it and now as we say in the mission "I have a brother!"--full circle!   haha

So this week being so busy things were kind of ruff in the Area. Friday night came around and we had hardly any lesson and no news. For the amount of running around and opening new areas. On Saturday we went and did some House inspections to make sure the missionaries houses are doing good and are clean. So Sunday, we really needed to do divisions and we were able to plan them with some members and we saw a lot of miracles and in the end we reached all of our goals and found 10 news and baptismal dates on Sunday. The Lord provides the way when we work all we can and do are very best.  He is ever aware of our needs ans is there to help us meet out goals when we put Him first.

Funny Story:
 So We have had this investigator named Rafael. He is awesome. He has a shell that someone gave to him years ago. A Conch Shell and he calls it his ¨Trumpeta¨ haha anyways 2 weeks ago we had to wait for him in the park to meet up with him to show him the Chapel. It can be kind of hard to find in Tres Rios. So I was in Divisions and I went and we were waiting and we hear... ¨Bu-Dum Bu-Dum!!!!¨haha and we said to each other what is that. It must be a bus.... and then we see good old Rafael walking on down blowing that Conch shell with all of his might. He is 74 years old by the way. He did the same thing yesterday. He´s awesome. We just had to remind him that in the Chapel we don´t do that.

The below picture is of  me and Elder Sepulveda teaching about 22 niños. We climbed up this mountain area and were talking to some less actives when one of the less actives said, The Missionaries! ¨Hey I am going to go get all the kids from the street together and you guys can share something! So we finished talking to this Less Active and then we come around the corner and here we find the other less active that gathered the kids together and had two seats in front of the group haha so it was pretty fun and a good little lesson :)

The Group of Niños that we taught!

I love my calling and love being here in this beautiful blessed land with the most amazing people and children of God.  Have a great week.
Love--
Elder Caleb M. Adams

More photos:

                                                Planning in a great location :) haha



So we arrived at the airport really really early one of these P days that we had to pick up the new missionaries coming in and it just so happens that we printed off the Lyrics to the songs we had in the car so we spent some time singing haha!
 Here is my comp singing---

Oh me and my companion were on our way to the office in the car and then my comp pulls over and says, `Man! I have something that is really bothering my foot! Like a rock or something in my shoe! and this little/giant guy fell out. Yep--that big!  haha.


                                        Me at the airport with  the wheels we get to drive!


At the airport with some awesome missionaries!----these missionaries are on their way home!  Audios and best wishes to all!


So me and my companion were on our way to the office in the car and then my comp pulls over and says, "Man! I have something that is really bothering my foot! Like a rock or something in my shoe!" and this little/giant guy fell out.   Yeah he is that big!  haha.

Service project!  

We did a Zone Service project. In a Nursing home today. A lot of fun. There are some familiar faces in there because we had changes and some were changed to my same zone.


We dropped off the old missionaries last change. They have been home for about 2 months now


At the Airport. This was taken a while ago. Dropping off the old Missionaries! On their way home!


                             The package arrived!!!--- mucho gracias mi familia!

The first 7days that I opened up! Thanks again! Love you all!

Saturday, December 5, 2015

30 Noviembre 2015 Feliz Navidad--early!!!!

Feliz Navidad,---early!   yeah so haha we are still in November, but we have been saying that to everyone since October!  haha.
 I have been pretty busy. Luckily Sister Hayes has been snapping a few pictures, so many of them are from her.
My favorite parts of this week are:  
Well there were a quite a few miracles. Crazy story, a few weeks ago we were contacting in a newer area and we ended up talking with a lady that works in an orphanage--- well long story short--- She is in charge of like 15 young men from ages 15 to 18. So we said bye and then like a week later we passed by and found her in the orphanage and talked with her.  I mentioned to her that we could do an activity and play soccer. She said that would be great and gave us her number.  We didn't  have anything set. So we left and were super busy with the new missionaries and changes. I tried calling her, but it just didn't work out. Anyways on Thursday, I was on my home with Elder Sepulveda,--- he has only one week so far in his mission,but  great missionary.  Anyway, we started talking to this guy while waiting for a bus and the conversation turned into well,  the gospel of Jesus Christ and he told us of how he doesn't really believe in those things because of all his trials. Anyways the spirit was there on that street  and soo strong.  We invited him to church.  So now jumping to Saturday, I called this boy and he said he was going to visit the church. Now that first off doesn't happen real often in our area. It is very rare that someone says they will even go and then come. Then I got a message from the same lady that worked at the orphanage that we had been trying to get in contact with and she said that one of the 18 boys she had there was going to visit our church this coming Sunday.  She went on to say how he had told her good things about us.  Anyway, out of that we were finally able to plan the activity. We are going to play soccer and basketball with them Saturday at 10 am. The thing is, is that the Tres Rios ward doesn't have a priest quorum. So that was a bummer!  My companion and I talked and we said well we will have to do something about that. Anyways it´s incredible how the Lord works. I know he lives and that this is His work, not ours.

I encourage each of you to share the message of Christ and his birth with others.  It is soo easy now with modern media.  Don't be afraid to tell others about the Savior and how much he means to you.

I wish you all a great week.
Love ya all!

Elder  Caleb Adams

Here are a few pictures:
Welcome to Costa Rica! We have good missionaries new! They are happy and excited and ready to begin their missions.


Stop at the Costa Rica Sn Jose Temple with the new missionaries---


New arrivals---fresh form the MTC and ready to work! :o) Four new missionaries arrived today!Welcome to Costa Rica!



  This is us having way to much fun as missionaries.  Sister Soe from New Zealand shared a fun game with us.  :o) The new game we learned is called Pukana. It´s pretty fun. 

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

23 Noviembre 2015 Happy Thanksgiving!

We have seen a lot of miracles. We had some different changes so we had to go receive a few new missionaries this week that came in early. The two elders are now my companions. They are cool, Their names are, Elder Sepulveda from Mexico and Elder Magaña from El Salvador. They will be with us for about 10 days until we have the real changes.  It is great to work with these elders as they come right in ready to go to work. 

I was working with Elder Magaña and we were getting to know this newer area, and we went to this crazy part of town with  climbing and coming down a bunch of mountain stairs. Everyone was rejecting us. You always have that thought---"Well I know I was sent here by the Spirit, so I am here for a reason". I am being rejected by everyone that sees us but there is some reason we are here. Well we contacted all these houses and then as we were coming down thinking of maybe going to another part. I felt I should talk to this girl, I said to her ¨The missionaries visited you before right?  She said yes, I didn´t know why, but  I just jumped right to the question. I said I asked her if she could show us her house because we have a message to share with her Family and she said okay, and lead us to her house. So we followed her down this alley, sidewalk thing and finally found the house and asked for the family. Long story short---We taught the family and found out that half of the family is less active and has not been to church in 3 years. So we taught them a spiritual lesson and they said they will go with us to church on Sunday.  Anyways it was cool faith prompting experience!


Things are well. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

Love ya!

Elder Caleb M. Adams

PS--Long story short---I am still working on getting my driver's license here.  Quite the task!
 I had to go to the Drivers license place and I asked for the boss.  I went to the US Embassy and now I am going to go talk to The Director of Licenses or what not over Costa Rica to see if I can change a Federal Regulation.... So that the missionaries that are coming in to the office and that I can get my Drivers License.

16 Noviembre 2015 The work moves on!

Things here are good! We had some more time to work in the Area! I actually went to Cartago for a few days and did some divisions there. and in the Area,
We were walking at night just the usual and well first you have to understand that here in Costa Rica they have these HUGE Rain Drains on the Side of the Roads, Like GIANT rain Gutters! Anyways We were Walking, and then right in front off us a car that was trying to turn around had one of the tires fall into the Gutter and couldn't go anywhere. so We kept walking and arrived to the Car and said-- "do you need help", So then we lifted up the car, my comp and I put it back down and then said have a good day! haha and then afterward we said, ----Woah we just lifted up a car!!!... haha we didn't even think about it.

One other thing, We planning and we were stumped on a few things because we feel we should find another place to cast our nets.... So we whipped out the Map and planned an area. Well when we got there the next day There was like a fork in the road thing and so we had kind of contacted all we knew, so we prayed where to go and then my comp said "Well I am going to see what this guy thinks" and he asked a man that was walking by.The fellow was texting so didn't even really look up at us, but we asked where are there a lot of people that need a message from Christ and haha he pointed to one of the roads and said there is a lot of people over there I think. That was the idea we had so it was kind of a confirmation--2nd witness---of where we needed to go. Anyways long story short we went there and Wow!!! We found areas upon areas of people and we found several new people. We set up appointments and yeah it has a lot of potential.:o)

Today we went to Presidents house and had the Monthly Check up and it went well! President Grilled some burgers and we shared a few things. It was awesome!

The Work Moves on! I get to serve in the best place ever! I totally love the people here and wouldn't trade this time in my life for anything. SOOO very thankful for this time to draw closer to my Savior.

Love ya all!

Elder Caleb Adams

Here are some pictures of the week----


Elder and Sister Burt--- the 2 Secretaries took us( Elder Macias and me) out to eat!--- at Johnny Rockets! These two are the greatest!

Dinner at Johnny Rockets!  It is like and old 50's shop to eat at.
My shirts arrived from Idaho---thanks Mom :o)

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Week 4 in Tres Rios-- 9 Nov 2015



                                 Two more wonderful days with zones Cartago and Toyopan!

This week we had a lot of meetings as well. Some Zone Conferences and then on Friday the Leadership Council. WOW!!!  It was good!   I got to teach in each one and help people out. Church was good as always. We had Ward Conference. We are working with some people to Baptize them. I love working with Pres. Hayes. He is such a powerful example of what is right and good. We had a great meeting today and I learned a lot about the Scriptures from him. The spirit of the mission has changed a bit with him here, We really have talked a lot about the difference of the Law of Moses. and the Law of Christ. Mosiah 1-5 talks about that and so does Helaman 5. 

Anyways life has been great. This week hopefully I will get my License and everything will go through. We are going to do divisions with some people to help them out. Next Monday we have the monthly check up with all of the new missionaries and their trainers in the President´s house. So that should be fun.

I love ya all and hope all is well! Thanks for the Prayers---I definitely feel them  :o)
Great news--- The repair man came and fixed our shower so now it has hot water instead of just cold haha so that's great.  I love what do!

Love--
Elder Adams

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Week 3 in Trios Rios Cartago !!! 2 de Noviembre 2015‏‏

Things are good! I did a lot of traveling this week. We had meetings with president and Zone Conferences in the Office. Then we took a rode trip and went to Guapiles and had a meeting there.  Then afterwards, we had to go drop some elders off at Puerto Viejo to open a new area. And then we traveled to The Limon Zone and slept there and then had a Zone Conference in Siquirres in the Morning. It all went well and then we helped with some things there and went home. 
                          Meetings and lots and lots of learning :o)

Lots of eating too---yum!
                                                                           
Things are going well. We haven't been able to work in the Area as much, which really is sad. This is a different way of serving, but very rewarding also.  This week we have a ton of meetings..... but the following week should be better. We are hoping to have 2 more baptisms here pretty soon.

Anyways, I got to eat lunch with Obispo Marin, Great Guy---He is  one of Gaby´s Friends from her childhood friends from back in the day  and is now a Bishop here.

                                 
I am  given lots of opportunities to teach and serve.  The Lord is blessing me in my calling. (me teaching in the La Limon zone conference)

Things are great! President Hayes and his Family are great! Take care! 

PS--still working on getting my Costa Rica drivers license so I can drive Pres and other missionaries around  :o) Love ya all!

Con Amor

Elder Adams
La Mision San Jose East Costa Rica


These are pictures of all the different zones that we took as we did zone conferences.

               New area opened up in Puerto Viejo
On the far right of the picture is Elder Farnsworth from the MTC. We opened a new area there and divided the companionship. Elder Farnsworth is there. We dropped him and others off to open the new area.

                              La Paz Zone


                      La Zona Limon



                       La Zona Sur


                  La Zona Cartago


                   La Zona Atlantica!

Saturday, October 31, 2015

26 de Octubre 2015‏ Week 1 in Tres Rios :o) Happy All Hallows Eve!

Letters to home ----

My art work had some help from Elder Maldanando :o)

Things here have been pretty busy! On Monday we had a meeting with President and then did some things in the Office. and then went out and worked and then on Tuesday to get my Drivers License and I waited in Line for 2 hours.... and then told me my license wasn't valid... haha so On Wednesday I had to set up an appointment with the US Embassy and I went in and got the License Notarized early in the morn. Thursday we had 2 baptisms and worked in the area. They went well! on Friday we got ready and headed out in the morning and took a bus at 12pm and got to Ciudad Neily at about 6:15pm. (see the picture of the bus) It was good it was hot down there, Wow I would love to work there! There are 8 elders and 2 sisters down in La Zona Sur. but it has got some serious Potential. President Hayes is focused in making it a stake in his time here. I went and did divisions with the Elders and then we slept in the Zone Leaders house and the Next day we went with President to Rio Claro where we had a Zone Conference. It went really great and we learned some great things and Practiced. I learned a lot. then we had to head back out at 2pm to take the bus and we got home at 9pm. Then on Sunday we did divisions with some members and worked hard. it was a good week! There is a lot of work outside of the area which is kind of sad. I love working with the people in the area. But this coming week we have some big meetings with all the Zones on Thursday we are going to Guapiles and then on Friday Limon. for Zone Conferences. 
                         Elder Macias (Mexico) and I with Michelle and Brittani at their baptisms.

President shared with us about Mosiah 1-5. What a great set of chapters! Its when The King Benjamin is talking to the Righteous people of Zarahemla. Sometimes we read that and think wow. He is calling them to repentance because they were terrible people. But there in the scriptures it says that they were Righteous. They were great. But can always do better. Line upon Line. We shouldnt ever get to the point where we say. Well this is good I think I will just Coast from here on out. President explained it like a ladder. That We just keep climbing up the ladder. We dont know when we will reach the end but it wont be in this life!

Anyways Thanks for all the Support! Take Care!


Amor Su Amigo--

Elder Caleb M. Adams

A rope bridge down in Ciudad Neily that moves quite a bit while walking on it!



We took a trip down to Ciudad Neily close to Panama and to get there we took a bus that was going to Panama and then got off on the Highway and walked to the City


Man playing a harp in street-----beautiful music :o)


Street Vendors