Welcome home, Elder Adamson!

What an experience, to welcome home our missionary son! Scott flew in from the California Fresno Mission on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 -- a long-awaited day. We love having him home, he looks, sounds, and just is great!

I'm sharing below, with his permission, the last email we received from him before his return -- it sums up the whole experience far better than I could:

Cool. Its been quite the ride the past two years. I feel like anything I say about it, good or bad, wouldn't do it justice either way. I don't think I will ever call this experience "the best two years." To be honest from the moment I was set apart as a missionary I felt like a fish out of water. But I also know I wouldn't trade the the past two years for anything in the world. The adventures i've had, though not at all what I had expected, have taught me so much. The people i've met i've grown to love more than I thought possible, and feel as close to them as I have anyone in my life.

I don't have any regrets about anything i've done out here. I know all too well i'm by no means the perfect missionary but I also know that even at those times when I hated being here I still went out and worked. There hasn't been a single day that I sat inside the apartment. Even when I was sick I'd still go out for the evening. If my comp was sick i'd organize a split so at least something could be done. I feel confident in saying that i've left every area better then when I found it. I know also I've had a really crappy attitude at times, but I don't look at that as a waste at all because I feel like those experiences have put me in a place where I can better help some one who otherwise might not be helped.

I can't say that i know better now then I did two years ago that the Book of Mormon is true. Or that Jesus is the Christ. But I can say that my understanding of the Atonement, my love for God, and my love for others has grown dramatically. There are still a billion questions I have about the Plan of Salvation, the restoration, the temple, and the gospel of Jesus Christ in general that I can't seem to find the answers too. But my testimony of their truthfulness, and their reality is undeniable. I believe with my all my heart in the Plan of Salvation. I've experienced the joy of being worked through by the Spirit and look forward to many more similar experiences.

Lastly, I don't look at this as coming in for a landing but rather as a takeoff for the rest of my life. The decision has already been made that i'll be hitting the ground running. So hang on. The rides only begun.

Love you all.

-Scotty

Food for thought - I heard once that life is not a journey with the goal of arriving at your destination in a pretty, well-preserved body. But rather to skid in broadside totally worn out and proclaiming, "Wow what a ride." Well put.