Week before Christmas

Wudd up?!!

I had to say that because that is Elder Jones' most favorite saying. Ha But this week has been good. I feel spoiled because of all the packages I have got. Thanks for all of you it is awesome. I wish I had something to give back to all of you. I have been liking opening the ones from Grandma Pali and I am getting pretty good at guessing what is inside. Ha I can't wait to open them. But we probably had the best gift on saturday, T... was baptized! She was so ready and she had friends come down from Utah to see it happen! It shows you how important of an ordiance that baptism is. One thing about in a stateside mission is people just want to give and buy you food. If you want to know my weight I now weigh 170!!! I was super scared when I stepped on the scale, but I still have I my 6 pack, I think I am just feeling out a little bit. I think it is funny running into all the people that have people in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and even Parker. Of course they were related to the Crapos. It has been a good week, time is speeding up and I can't believe that I have been out for about five months now it has just flown by. We found out with the new changes in the MTC, we will have a five week transfer in Febuary, so starting then missionaries will start coming home a week earlier. It isn't fair, I don't get to serve my full two years!

So phone calls... It seems that I probably won't be able to write next week , but as far as length of time. We are given 40 minutes to call, and if we have split parents we get to split the calling time, so I will call you both for 20 minutes each. It seems short so have your questions ready. It is an obedience thing and I want to be obedient to what my Father wants me to do.

I have been really thinking of the Christmas story and what it means to me. I love it and if you have ever seen Mr Krueger's Christmas that s how I feel. I love my Savior and he has been there for me all the time. There is also a really good mormon message about a mom holding a baby and the she is going through a really difficult time, she is holding the child and she thinks that she is almost holding the baby Jesus and she hears the spirit tell her no I am holding you. That is how a lot of us must feel. Jayson I am happy that even though it may have been hard to watch your teammates wrestle and you couldn't. Know that the Savior is watching over you and comforting you. That is what I felt as I blew my knee out almost two years ago. He is mindful of us and wants to help us. I love you all and I especially love the Lord Jesus Chrst.

Elder Wade

I'll be in Surprise For Christmas!

Hey!

Well If can't guess... I transfer news came today. I am still with Elder Jones and still in Surprise! But it has already been a really interesting week. Elder Peterson one of my zone leaders went home, I really looked up to him and it was hard for all of us to tell him goodbye, it is hard seeing people you live with leave. It has happened to me twice already and my companion will be the next. I really hope he doesn't get trunky on me. But we are now a tri-panionship until tomorrow. Funny story with that... We are with my other Zone leader, Elder C....and guess who we ran into... Jared N.....'s sister and her family! We walked in and instantly I knew she was a Ny...... Also We had an awesome time at the temple lights and vistor center and the Mesa Temple on Sunday. That place is amazing! and J... and S....... loved it as well. We ran into a old district leader of Elder R.......'s. Anyways J.... loved the family video at the temple and it is a very touching video. We will hopefully be setting a date with them soon T... is still on date with this Saturday, I am super excited it is going to be a good one. She was announcing it at the Christmas party. She is pretty solid and is doing really. Christmas is in the air.

I read a lot of Alma this week and Moroni brings up the point of cleaning the inner vessel. It is intresting how much that it is connected to pride and faith. It seems that we think that we are doing pretty good and actually dwindling in our faith and then the temptations come. That is why prayer, scriptures and chruch are so important. We always have to a clean vessel.

Thanks for the ipod the talks are the best on there. We do have to skip a few songs but it doing alright. Grandma, I will probably get the package tomorrow. Any packages sent to the mission office take longer to get to me, because our zone leaders just pick them up when they go get supplies, or when we have a confrence of some sort. I am looking forward to it. Jayson I am sure you did an excellent job at wrapping my packages. By the way, Happy Birthday to Grandma Pali and Happy soon to be Birthday to Grandma Wade. Jayson You can beat Blackfoot. Too many people think that they are unbeatable, but look at you, you are determined and always striving for the best. Come Conference you can and will beat him. It is 90% mental. Listen to your coaches. Set goals then execute. It is always great to her from you all, I happy to call you family and I love you.

Elder Wade

December

Where has time gone?

It seriously feels that I just came out. I can't believe it is already Christmas. I look forward to all the joy that can be brought because of The gift of Christ. Not going to lie... It is really weird not to have snow or cold and seeing all these christams decor. It should almost be illeagal. But I love not being cold all the time. I can still walk out for the most in a short sleave shirts and shorts in the morning for workouts. I found Jayson's Wrestling beenie that he got from the club last year. That has kept me warm in the morning. Ha no I didn't take on purpose it must have been in my coat from snowboarding. I would send some warm up your way but the Lord gives us trials... Haha.

It was Elder Jone's birthday on Saturday. Guess How we spent it? Helping people move! Ha my question is... Why would you put your food storage on the second floor. We had to lift these 50 pound buckets down the stairs. My arms are still sore. But we ended up he;lping a family move out and different family move in. And where we live the the people are pretty well off. They are all doctors and dentists and have a ton of stuff. But I love helping people move it was fun and we ended having a pretty good day. The work is going well, people are a little bit nicer then usual and are actually thinking of Christ so they are more open. I hope this continues. We had a few investigators come to church yesterday. One thing now is that I am scared of death of testimony meetings. You never Know what people are going to say. You don't want your investigator to feel awkward either. But it ended up not being so bad. We haven't gone to the Lights yet but hopefully next week. Speaking of next week it is transfers, I hate the feeling of not knowing, if you will be in the same place or not. We will find out next Tuesday if we are being Transferred. hopefully I will get to see Elder Jones off. I will probably be training soon. Right now our mission has 170 missionaries. By next year we will have about 250. We have a ton of missionaries coming in the next couple of transfers, it is exciting to the Lord hastening his work.

i love this time of the year and the opportunity that I get to focus Just on the Savior. I found a qoute in my Scriptures from President Howard W. Hunter I would like to share with you.

" Never did the Savior give in expectation of recieving. He gave freely and lovingly, and His gifts were of inestimable value. He gave eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, and legs to lame; cleanliness to the unclean, wholeness to the infirm, and breath to the lifeless. His gifts were opportunity to the downtrodden, freedom to the oppressed, forgiveness to the repentet, hope to the desparing, and light in the darkness. He gave us His love, His service, and His life. And most important, He gave us and all mortals resurrection, salvation and eternal life.

We should strive to give as He gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift. We give as a rememberance of all the Savior has given."

I love you all. I challenege you to remember this as you give gifts this year. I love all that you have given me. Give as He gives.

Love, Elder Jake Wade