This is the end. Peace out Y'all!

Dying days...

Well, I never thought it would come to this, but here’s my last email.  It’s so surreal to think it has been 2 years and that it is now over.  Right now, I don’t know exactly how to feel, I’m just a wreck of mixed emotions.  Anyway, here is the happenings of week 104.

Lovin' y'all in the south!

Monday we walked the big dam bridge with Paul.  So, funny story.  I don’t know if y’all remember, but last Sunday I spilled a little water on Paul during sacrament.  Well, on Monday, karma hit me like a freight train.  Only, it wasn’t water.  I literally knocked a whole soda on my pants because my arm decided to turn into Velcro and catch a straw by a millimeter of the top and yank it all over me.  So I got sticky and wet and couldn’t focus on my pizza.  But I was able to shower and then Paul took us to the chiropractor where a member worked on us for free.  Not a huge fan, not much was fixed on me...bummer.  The Smiths fed us dinner and it was some good curry!  I think I had 2 or 3 plates.  After that We went shopping that night and got hit on BAD by 2 Walmart workers lol.  One snatched my Book of Mormon cause she wanted mine instead of Elder Roberts.  It was also kind of gross, cause they were asking super weird and gross questions, so we gave them Book of Mormons, said a prayer for their sanity and morals in our hearts and left.

Tuesday we literally tract and knocked doors all day.  We found a couple people who said to come back, but not a ton.  It was so hot and humid, I had a butt sweat that was so noticeable you could see it from a country mile away.  Paul picked us up and took us home for a shower and refreshment haha.  We played basketball that night for the last time and I did alright.  I made a 3 and boy you woulda thought I won the World Series I was so happy!  Not a bad night.

Coinage

Wednesday we had district meeting and then afterwards we went out and cleaned up a less actives shed.  Y’all, this place had every bit of disease and filth I have ever seen.  It smelled, it was wet and groggy and clothes and old mattresses every where. We went and got gloves so we could tackle the monster.  Some guy stole my bible while we were at family dollar.  I hope he reads exodus 20.  We got back and went in for the kill.  Oh, side note, I bought Sister Palmer gloves and family dollar gave me a pair of right hands....that’s what we get for being cheap lol.   I ended up picking up an old mop and guess what surprise I was taken for?  There was how ever many years old turd on the handle and lucky me got it on my glove.  It was towards the end of the service due to it started raining, so I threw the glove away.  It was horrifying how gross that place was.  We came home and studied before Ethan picked us up for dinner.  I love the Hendersons.  After dinner, Ethan took us to choir rehearsal and I said bye to him cause he was heading to Iowa for a job for 3 weeks.

Thursday we had our interviews with President.  Mine wasn’t too long cause I’ll see him tomorrow for an exit interview.  I made goals for my last 5 or so days in the field and all that.  We changed, gave the car to the sisters and started out walking again.  It was HUMID.  We were drenched in 30 minutes.  By the time we got home after that, I started to clean up and pack a bit before the Franks picked us up for dinner and took us to Cracker Barrel.   After dinner, which was awesome, we went to volleyball and it was literally just us, the Otter Creek Sister’s and the Hermana’s.  Oh well, it was fun!

Ballers

Friday we went out with Paul after my last weekly Planning (I’m so happy I don’t have to do that again).  We went finding, contacting and visiting less actives, but we only had 1 lesson happen.  But it was a solid lesson!!  Her name is Mrs. Dean and she is a sweet heart.  She had a lot of questions about “Old Joe Smith” lol.  But she was genuine and wants to learn more as we explained the restoration to her.  She was so happy and upbeat that it made me smile the whole time haha.  Paul had some real good input cause they were both baptist at one point and they really connected!  She also knows a few members of our ward, so we are goin* to try to contact the, to go with us this coming Friday!  As we left she was saying “I’ll see y’all next week!  Well, besides Adair, he’s gone” and that’s when it kinda hit me that I go home soon, but I brushed it off and laughed.  Paul took us out to eat at La Hacienda and it was so good.  Kinda funny side note, there was literally 10 year olds working there...talk about family restaurant.  But la hacienda is a chain, so we were taken for all sorts of turns.  Paul kept saying he was gonna call the mariachi band to play me a song and make a scene, so I slammed my street tacos and we left lol.  He took me for a drive around Pinnacle Mountain one last time and it was so peaceful and the sunset was gorgeous and the air outside got cool.  Imma miss Arkansas something fierce I’ll y’all what.  There ain’t nothin but the humidity I ain’t like.  I can’t believe it’s coming to a close.

I gotta sing what?

Saturday we went out and mowed Sister Stuckey’s lawn.  We invited her the the General Authority visit that night and she said she would go (we could only go if we brought a returning member or investigator).  Then we went to help Brother Dixon move a couch, but the guy at the
gate couldn’t open the gate.   So we just got lunch instead.  We then went with a returned missionary named Adam.   We went to try a few investigators but everyone didn’t answer.  Well, Etheon told us to come back later.  We did, though, get in contact with a new person we found on Tuesday.  Her name is Akia.  We gave her a Book of Mormon cause she asked for it Tuesday, so we came to follow up and teach a lesson.  Well, her husband was outside and made it known about 6 times that he was Muslim.  In my head all I could think was, “man do i gotta add Muslims to the list of ‘I gotta make it known’ along with vegans and cross fitters?”  He was ranting on the side as we talked with Akia.  We didn’t get a lesson in due to her questions...which were very odd.  She legit asked what the difference between the new and Old Testament was...then asked how the Book of Mormon compares.  We had to explain that like 5 times.  We taught a little about Joseph smith but not much cause Mr. Muslim came back.  We invited them to church and all of a sudden Mr. Muslim is make a deal how that’s his rest day cause he works every day (literally he works from 8 pm to 11 pm at a gas station).  Then, he basically commanded Akia to go to church, so I’m what, what is going on?  Well we got a ride situation all settled and left.  We came home for a bit before Brother Loken came out with us to try some more people.  Our appointments that night fell through and so we went back to Etheon and Sharon’s.  Well, they dropped us...that was hard.  We went to visit a deaf member named Peter.   It
was cool cause Brother Loken signed as we taught about the 10 commandments.  He took us home and we got ready for the devotional.  When we got there, we waited and called Sharon a few times but no answer.  She never came...so we dropped our suit coats in Spanish Elders car and went finding.  We tracted out an apartment complex and found only 1 guy who told us to come back.  He took a Book of Mormon and our card cause he wants to learn how to love more.  We also found probably the nicest ex Mormon haha.  Other than that, we walked home, tired as all get out and sweatier than a pig in blanket.

Pals

Sunday was really long.  We did our missionary choir at Benton ward while there were 2 general authority 70’s there.  Elder Johnson visited with Elder Robbins a few months ago and said he remembered me, not to brag or anything.  Also, Elder Clayton of the presidency of the 70 was there as well.  He’s awesome!  After the sacrament meeting, we went with Brother Loken and tried to see Akia, but she avoided us like the plague.  More funny story again.  As I went to knock, the door was kinda opened, so I knocked on the side of the door.  Well, I did that twice and no one answered.  I stayed and knocked one last time, but silly me hit the middle of the door and it sprung right open to reveal a woman on her phone.  Well, Mrs. ma’am about died lol. We asked for Akia and explained who we were and she shut the door to find her. Another lady then came out and asked if we had walked into her house and said she was scared to death.  So again, we explained who we were and she laughed it off.  Apparently Akia wasn’t interested though.  There is a door and a small room right by the front door and I saw someone in it thinking it was her husband, so I didn’t bother cause I didn’t want another episode like the previous day.  Well, we were told Akia was in there, but she didn’t come out and so we left.  Then we saw Sharon Stuckey and she said she will come to church next week.  We went to church, sadly no one came.  We stayed after church cause we also attended Spanish branch.  I said my goodbyes and got a ton of going home advice haha.  Ammon Henderson gave me a dope tie as well as the young women in the stake made all the missionaries goody baskets.  Such a good day at church.  We sang there too.  It was pretty funny cause Elder Roberts and I were straining our necks trying to poke our heads closer to try to understand words and phrases so we knew what the branch president was saying lol.  So in total we were at church from 8:15 am to 4 pm and took the sacrament 3 times.  So not gonna brag, but we got extra sanctified this week.  Either that, or we sinned so much that we needed extra spirit and remembrance.  We went to Sister Bernal’s for dinner afterward and it was pretty hard cause that was the last time I was gonna see the dog, Macy, for a few months.  I wasn’t worried about Sister Bernal cause I have her phone number, but Macy...that was hard.  We came home and I packed my bags for the last time.

I can’t believe it’s been 2 years already.  I feel like it was just yesterday I was wrestling my brothers in front of the MTC, walkin in with a grass stain on my elbow.  I can’t help but express my love and gratitude to my God and Savior for calling me to this wonderful part of the world.  I wouldn’t trade anything for it.  I have learned to love, to cherish the little things, the be humble, to give freely to those in need, to always rely upon my savior, to serve with all my might, mind and strength, to look outside of myself and put myself away for the benefit of others and to gain a testimony of the work of the Lord.

The beginning and end of a well spent journey...welcome home son!

I can now say with all energy of heart, I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ again restored to the earth.  I know Joseph Smith was a prophet.  The most important testimony gained, was how I know my Savior lives.  He is more than just a man in a Book.  He is more than someone people talk about.  He is more than a story told at Christmas or Easter time.  He is the living Son of the living God.  Although I hear nonbelievers say all the time, as did Mr. Muslim, “Jesus didn’t die for me,” he did.  He died and suffered more than anyone on this earth, for everyone on this earth. There isn’t anything anyone can say to persuade me from that testimony.  There is a God and he is our Father.  The Book of Mormon and Bible testify of this truth over and over again.  I promise whoever should read the Book of Mormon with a sincere and open heart, the Holy Ghost will testify to them of the same truths I know.  It’s impossible for this not to happen, but you have to be willing to act on the promptings you get.

Many times I have been asked to share what I have learned on my mission.  Well guys, that is the most loaded question I can be asked lol.  I can’t explain all of the experiences I have had on my mission in an email.   It is literally impossible.  There is no way to do it properly without feeling my emotion as I speak.  The people of the South truly have a piece of my heart and there is no way I can get it back.  This is my home and this is the land I got to serve my God.  If I could just say one thing about my service, it would be I’m changed. I didn’t get the opportunity to baptize anyone in these 2 years.

I didn’t get the chance to see the end goal for 99% of the people I taught and I hope to God they find the missionaries again.  I stood in the water but once to assist in a baptism, but my feet are dry.  Though many people may say I might be ineffective, maybe they’ll say I failed, maybe they will think I was just unlucky, but as for me, I say I’m about as successful as I could be.  I done performed my calling to the best of my ability and I can say without a doubt I left it all on the field.  I can say as Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.  I’m my one.  I just hope and pray I had a good effect on the people I came in contact with. I love every single one of y’all and am so grateful y’all have been there to support and love me through these 2 years.  Y’all are the greatest.  I’ll see y’all soon.

Signing off with love for the last time as a full time missionary, Elder Adair

Kings Do King Things
Goin' Buck Wild