Wednesday, August 11th First letter from the mission field

Well, I have finally made it to Rochester, NY! That flight trip was a lot longer than expected... :P However, everything has turned out for the better! :)

It has been quite an incredible couple of days. For starters, I met President Christianson. He's just like Uncle Craig; I love it!!! He :) He interviewed all 12 of us the night we got in. (P.S. Elder Hunt picked me up! He gave me a huge hug! :D) I was the last interview of the night - meaning I didn't get to sleep until around 11. In my interview, we talked about why I was here. I told him that I was here to do what the Lord would have me do in any situation and I would be happy with any place the Lord put me. Towards the end of the interview, we both got a little teary-eyed. I committed to him and the Lord that these next two years, I would not let them down. This time was for me to do the best I can in serving the Lord, and he told me that he was really touched by that. One thing he constantly told the group was that he loved us just like his kids. I feel the exact same way for him. Like I said, he is just like Uncle Craig and I don't think I could ever bring myself to let him down. :)

The next day, I recieved my new companion and trainer. His name is Elder Bryson. He's been in the field about 6 months and loves the fact that I want to work. One of the Elders from my MTC district (Elder Decker) is also in my new district. We have been assigned to serve in Bath, NY. Good luck finding it on a map... it's in southeast corner of the mission. It is a small, podunk town. When I first arrived, I was extremely nervous. I've met a lot of...interesting(?) people here. I'm sure you know how it is in small towns. However, I have a great story for you.

Side-note: So, I didn't move in to a very clean apartment (Elder Bryson's last companion also had to have an early transfer... ya, no good.) I understood the circumstances and we cleaned it up pretty quick. However, our next door neighbors are heavy smokers... and JW's. :P So the smell of their smoky atmosphere leaks into our apartment. YUCK! We went shopping today and I picked up a ton of air fresheners. Hopefully that works.

Our first teaching appointment was last night at 7:00pm. It was with one of Elder Bryson's golden investigators. Her name is Tina Cash. She's from Pennsylvania, had a rough past (used to be in prison under false charges) and is currently on probation. She has two daughters who are older, pregnant, and unmarried but in relationships. She met with the missionaries once before about 12 years ago, but that went south and decided recently that she was going to see us again. She already has a tentative baptismal date for 9/11. I say tentative because she is a smoker. She has committed to baptism, but she must be clean for 21 days before she can have her interview. She is very repentant and knows that she wants this, but she "will recieve no witness until after the trial of [her] faith." Elder Bryson said that was the biggest step they've made with her ever, and we aren't going to let up at all. I made a deal with her. If she stops smoking, I will stop biting my nails. I've done good, and so has she. We meet with her again tonight @ 7. We also meet with her friend, Amanda, who I also extended the committment of baptism, too! She has just started with us, and I know she can pull through if she, too, throws the addiction of smoking. She has a lot to learn, but I have full faith that she will do it. She is also committed for the 11th with Tina. Elder Bryson was so excited about what happened; his last companion left him out to dry a lot of the time. He's so relieved and grateful to have a companion who actually wants to work. I will continue to make sure I am that companion for him.

How's that for a first day? I figured I would just dive in and go straight to baptism. That's why I am here. As missionaries, we are the gatekeepers to baptism and we must "invite all to come unto Christ by helping them recieve the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End." The MTC taught me well. More importantly, the Lord, through the Spirit, has taught me well. I continue to stay humble, yet bold and focused, yet happy in all things.

I love you all so much!! I hope everything is going well down in Provo. The mission is hard. I know that now because I have experienced it first-hand. However, I am strong. I know this is where I need to be, and I would have it no other way. At first, being in this little "village" gave me an unsettled feeling. I have since gotten over that and am now totally focused on why I am here. It has nothing to do with me. Remind Andrew and Catriel that they need to begin studying PMG if they haven't already. Don't focus on the lessons - those come in time and teaching. Focus on Ch. 4,5, and 6. Feel free to do so as well. Great insight on the subjects. :) Again, I love you all! My love goes out to all and letters will ship out monday! :)

Love always!

Your son,
Elder Sean Ryan Adair

Goblins! Rocks! Where's DOUG?!?!

What a FANTASTIC weekend! We had a little too much fun in Goblin Valley. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I figured I would show you a few. Mainly because that's a lot of words that I don't wanna write down...

Wandering aimlessly...



Just chillin' in a cave...



Garignak, Garignak, Garignak...



Yay! Scriptures!

Friends

It's comin down to it and I'm feeling it. Like I've said, I'm not nervous. It's a form of excitement I would like to call... anxiety. Yup. That's what it is.

Today, I gave my "farewell" address. So many people showed up, I was afraid of where the ward was going to sit. Overall, the talk went great. Seeing that my dad is a bishop, he had me speak in his ward last week, so I got a heads up practice talk for this sunday. I guess his kids can be guest speakers... I should've seen it coming - Taylor did it. Afterwards, everyone came to our open house. That was a great time. I got the opportunity to see many of the people I haven't seen in years. It was a very close, happy experience that really touched my heart. To think I said I didn't have many friends. When they fill a chapel... it makes you wonder...

The Lord has given me such a great talent of befriending everyone I meet. I love that I don't know a stranger. In the mission field, I hope this trait helps me through my teaching and meeting investigators. I love the Lord, his gospel and his teachings.

P.S. I enter Wednesday...