Saved by Grace

Hey!

It has been a great week! Really fast, I can't believe it is P-Day
again. It just goes by way too fast. We met a really cool part member
family this week. And his name is legitimately A (T) S.
He hasn't been to church since he was nine or so but he wants to get
his fiancé and her son involved. Luckily they live right across from
our bishop, so he is a good spot to come back.

Unfortunately we haven't been able to meet with the Kinkades this
week, she ended up having class the same time we scheduled our lesson
so we will hopefully will meet with them in the next couple of days.
But all is good.

Yesterday Elder D and I had to give talks in Cactus Lane. We got
the topics, Elder D  gets his and it was on inviting and
following up, so I was like sweet we will get one on missionary work.
Nope... I get this one: "Grace and what it means to us as Latter-Day
Saints." I was a little taken back. I studied a lot this week. There
is some really good talks and articles on it. The one that I got a lot
from was a talk given by Elder Oaks in April 1998 titled "Have You
Been Saved?" In this talk he gives six meanings to the words "saved"
and "salvation". It was super good. The one meaning he gave was one
that Grace saves us from spiritual darkness. And I was thinking back
on my life and the stupid decisions I made and they just seem dark,
but, on the other hand, living the gospel and memories of that seem
like they are light. I think that it is really neat to think we are
saved from those dark moments in life. It is for real.

I am looking forward to this week and what it has to bring. Have a
great Memorial Day! And a great week! It is the last week of the
transfer. So I will be emailing on Tuesday next week. Love you all!

Elder Jake Wade

Trials are like sprained ankles‏

Hey There!

It has been a fantastic week! We taught a lot more. It has been awhile
so it was really nice. Makaila is still on track and everyone in the
ward loves her. We had MLC and zone meeting this week. One thing that
I noticed from is how important it is not only to follow our Savior,
but to become like him. We focused a lot on Christlike attributes and
what it takes to get them. It was a really good experience.

This morning we went on a hike. I love the analogies you can make with
hiking. Such as there are a lot of ups and downs in life. If we stay
on the trail we will get where need to be. Never would I thought that
rolling your ankle could be to describe trials, but it is true they
are just a great big pain in our life. Not only that but they can
swell up and bruise making us focus just on that ankle. Just how when
we go through something we think we need to be the center of attention
when really we can fix it with the help of the Atonement. I rolled in
like the first ten minutes into the hike it was no fun, but I made
It to the top. Came down and my ankle was the size of a softball.
Gotta love it! I will send pictures next week.

But can you believe March is over! It crazy how fast time is going.
Elder Wainwright the other tried to be funny and tried to give me a
day count down, but I stopped him before he did. That stinks that you
got dumped on with all this snow. I don't even know what is like
anymore. Luckily... I am sure it will melt soon. Right?

I am so excited for general conference! I have feeling that it is
going to be super good! We actually be able to hear the same talks it
is great! We have interviews tomorrow as well so that will be good. I
have to renew my temple recommend. It is also my last interview with
President Taylor. I am excited for things to come.

Love ya!
Elder Jake Wade

You can feel the urgency‏

Dear Family and friends!

I cannot to begin to tell how incredible of a week it was. It was full of highs and lows. I am mostly grateful for the highs but learned from the lows. We probably had one of the best weeks that we have had in awhile. I think I found out why I stay in areas for so long. It takes me a little bit to get in the groove of things. But it was really neat to see that prayer and fasting really does work. At the beginning of the month we fasted for more people to teach. This last week we found three new investigators that are ready. It was great because our two main investigators were out of town so we couldn't meet with them as much. So finding made this week the best. We are also excited for this week. Even though it is going to be another busy one with meetings and other things. It will be good. This next week is going to be the last time we have the sacrament until the 20th of April, because we have General Conference and then the next  week we have Stake Conference. So it will be pretty crazy. The main reason it is so wack is because we had the temple dedication. Everyone down here says it has been awhile since that has happened. It is going to be weird not taking the Sacrament for a couple of weeks. It always makes the weeks blend more. Not like they aren't already. 

One of the girls we met while going through this apartment complex looking for a less active member. We see her sitting on the steps leading up to the place. We went up to her and asked if we could say a prayer with her. She said she really needed it. After saying a prayer we found out that it was her first day on the job. She is cleaning old apartments that have been left vacant. The apartment complexes she work at are not the best. They are known for having some sketchy things happen there. So I can only imagine what she sees while cleaning them. We are now teaching her and she recently found out her boyfriend doesn't believe in God so she kicked him out so that is pretty funny. 

We were able to teach Makaila this week over Skype. She is super solid. She reminds me a lot of S when Elder W and I started teach her. She is ready and wants to get baptized really bad. She came to church yesterday and loved it and she can't wait to come to all three hours next week. She had to go home because of a family thing. But it was great to have someone there that the ward could befriend. 

Back to fasting we asked for more people to teach in return we were given a great feeling of urgency and strength to talk with everyone. It is cool to see that the Lord doesn't force you to do anything but he strengthens you according to your faith. He doesn't make things happen he allows us to help things happen. His greatest joy is to see us get a little closer to the person we can become. Which will be one day with him. 

With much love, 

Elder Wade   

Happy St.Patrick's Day

Hey! Hope everyone is having a good week and day.

It has been a really good one here. With transfers this past week we lost a lot of good missionaries but we got really good missionaries in return. In fact we have three former zone leaders in our zone now. It is the dream team. We are really excited for this transfer, it is going to be super good. I am really feeling the meaning of the word urgency and how the Lord is hastening his work. We have a lot to do and it just means we have to keep moving and not get complacent. I think that is the biggest thing I have learned from being areas for so long. I love it though. And the ward is happy that both Elder Wainwright and I are still here. 

We had a lot of miracles come this past week. For example we got a call from elders in our zone and they gave us a referral for a girl named M...... She has a baptism date for the middle of April. It is going to be way cool, because she will be out of town this week but we can still teach her over skype. It is going to be a really cool experience. We also am getting really good fellowshippers for K... He is going to get a social conversion then the spiritual will soon follow. I don't know what we are going to do now though, because one of his main friends in the ward is our elder's quorum. And he is now engaged to our Relief Society President... Our ward in general is done for!! Oh the joys and excitements of being in a YSA. 

Other then that it has been getting warmer here too. I think it almost got to 90. Summer is coming too fast. Glad you are all starting to warm up. You need it. You almost became icicles. We are getting exciting for the upcoming events: General Conference aka the super bowl for missionaries, and the Easter Pageant. It is going to be a good spring! Hope all goes well for you! 

Love Elder Wade     

The House of Lord

Hey Family!

So it has been a fantastic week. We are teaching the same people they have lot more desire to learn more. We also had the Gilbert Temple dedicated. Wow... That was amazing! In attendance was President Monson, President Eyring, Elder Tad R. Callister, Elder Walker, and Elder Richards. It was super good. We went to the second session. Which President and Sister Taylor were in the Celestial room for that session. He said that it was a great experience to be in the same room as those prestige men that we look up to. He said that spirit told him louder then ever these two words. URGENCY, HASTENING. I know I felt the same. I felt the Spirit so strong when the Lord's prophet dedicated the temple. This hastening is bringing all of The Lord's children back to him. That includes the deceased. Temple work converts converts. So the more people we get to the next ordinance the more we can get of their ancestors' work done. It is like a big ole funnel. It is amazing how it all works. The Spirit of Elijah takes over! 

One thing that was really impressed on me was the truthfulness of the resurrection. It is amazing once you think of it. All of our troubles that we have had in our life will be lifted and we will be perfected through the Atonement of Christ. Through the loss of hair to the un-curable disease. Also that the knowledge we obtain in this life raises with us. I am excited for school even though it is forever away. I don't care that I am going BYU-I. Evidently that is where I am needed. 

This week is going to be crazy! We have meetings galore! We also have quite a few lessons set up. Even with New investigators. It should be a good one. It seems like you all have a crazy week as well. 

Thanks for telling me how the wrestlers did. It was funny that you mention that though. I had a dream last night that I was warming up for a match. It was at Bonneville Duels. Right when I stepped on the mat, the alarm went off. I miss wrestling. The other day I was on exchanges with the assistants, I and I think he did this on purpose knowing I grew up wrestling, but we went to go see this less active that is wrestling for GCU. The local college down here. Once this guy found out that I was a wrestler his face lit up and he got a lot more excited to see us. He committed to go to church, which was good. he also wants to wrestle me. He is cutting weight though. He cut 20 pounds in one week. I don't miss those days at all. I am dieting though. 

Keep your heads up and be of good cheer! 

love, Elder Wade       

Gilbert Temple!!!

Hey There!

I hope you all have had a good week. We did. It was busy and it wasn't because we had meetings. It was good. We started teaching a Navajo. He is pretty neat. He won't be here long though. We will get him as close to baptism as we can. We also have another guy we are teaching. His name is Kris. He is legit. We didn't meet with him last week, but we have already scheduled a couple of times to meet up this week. Our Bishop just laughs because almost everyone we have taught lately has a member girlfriend. It is kind of like flirting to convert, but the guys actually have real intent. It will be good to work with them this week.

On Sunday we had a guy come to church that we ran into that was inactive for about six years. He is way cool. I love connecting with others. He really had no interest of coming to church. We asked him how long he will be here and he said that he will be here until at least April. That is when his fight is. He does MMA. I told him that that is super cool! I told him I wrestled  for years and he said that is what got him into UFC. I told him there is a lot of wrestlers that are in our ward. SO he showed up yesterday and fit in super well. He loved what was said and said that it was what he needed. That was good to hear. So we are having a lot success with returning members. It is great to work with Young single adults, because one you can connect to them, and two you can tell that they are looking for something and you can see the beginning stages of conversion, not just gaining a testimony. 

This week is pretty neat we have the Gilbert Temple dedication! It will be my third temple dedication I will attend! I am so excited! The whole valley is excited for it as well. The ward is going there next Saturday for their monthly temple trip. I am sure it will be crowded. 

I hope the best for you all this week! Have fun and remember who are what you stand for! 

Love, Elder Jake Wade  

February

Dear loved ones,

Have I ever told how much of a blessing it is to write and hear from you every week? If I haven't I am now repenting and changing my ways. I love hearing from all that write. Even those that read these emails and don't write I feel your love for me... 

So as for my new companion. He is the best ever! We are like best friends already. His name is Elder W.......... from Bountiful Utah. Amazingly enough he is only my second companion from Utah. The only other one is Elder B...... Who is now a zone leader in Cottonwood. He is now up north! He was super nervous, but I will get to see him tomorrow. Elder W........ is so funny he goes home six weeks after me. He started his mission here in this zone. He was actually trained by Elder B...., Elder K.....'s trainer. So we are basically the same person... He is probably the funniest person I have met. We will do well together. I love how positive he is. 

This morning we were talking to President Taylor. This past weekend he was at a Stake conference in Surprise. He said that he spoke and the stake presidency. He then told me the other speaker... It was Brother L.......! Who Elder L...... and I taught him and his family and they were baptized in June. President said that he did a fantastic job and gave an amazing talk. He asked him for a copy of it so he could use at zone conferences and such. T.. told him only if I get a copy of it as well. So he told me he will give to me tomorrow! I was so happy when he told me that! That is what missionary work is all about! Love. I love that family and others I have taught and even those that have rejected. I love the people here. They have all touched my life. I am grateful to still be in the Phoenix . This ward is so fun. We have a great bishop and counselors. I have to say only in a .... do you make sure you get out of church on time to see the game... And make the excuse of family gatherings. It was really funny. 

So February is always the month of love. The best way to tell someone you car for them is through your actions. Love, Listen, Serve. That is what it all comes down to. 

Love, Elder Jacob Wade    

Things are on the up-n-up‏

Dear Family,

I hope everything is okay. Thank you Grandma. I love hearing about your temple experiences. That reminds me... This past week we had a lesson with C..., a recent convert, and we talked about family history. He was telling us how excited he was to get started. It was really neat because we were able to pull the website right on our iPads and show the basics of the website. He then told us that he can't wait to show this to his mother. His mom, came to his baptism and overwhelmed with everything left early.  He then told us that this past week he went to visit his mom, who lives in South Phoenix area, she wasn't home and he got in and turned the T.V. on... It was turned to BYU TV! He was excited because there is great hope for her. I know that it is because of his great love for the Gospel and living what he knows is true.

I bet many of you are wondering of how our conference went with Elder Holland. Well I am sad to say that he had an emergency assignment and he couldn't make it. We were disappointed to a hear that but we still had our conference with Tempe and Tucson. It was at a stake center in Tempe. I saw Elder Br...... from Tempe and also Sister Fl.... from Tucson and of course Elder Goff! I was so happy to see him. He is doing really well. We had great speakers. All the mission presidents and wives spoke, and our guest was Elder Jim Wright of the 70. I honestly have never heard of him until this weekend. He related his coming as someone buying tickets for a Beetles concert and showing up and it being the Dixie Chicks. Haha, he was pretty funny and we had a good time as well. Nearly 800 missionaries were there. It was a sight to see. 

We also had zone interviews this past week. We have car inspections at this time as well. I wish I had a picture to prove it but Elder B...... and I got the cleanest car and a perfect score!! SO see mom I CAN clean!! Haha! But one thing I have realized this past week is that I need to be truly converted or I can't teach. We have to lay it all on the alter and consecrate ourselves for The Lord and for the work. That is where testimonies are built and love endures. I am grateful to be here. I am grateful for where I have came and I am looking forward to where I will be. Proverbs 29:18. We need to have a vision or we will perish. 

This week is going to be great! We have a lot of things going for us. We go even more with faith! 

I love you all. I can never say how much I am grateful for all of what you have done for me! 

Thank You, 

Elder Jacob Wade 

p.s. Two of my recent converts from the YSA are engaged now! P..... got engaged on Dec 27th and S..... this past week! They are doing great! 

Be of Good Cheer!

Happy New Year!

Man I am so happy the holidays are over!! It has been killing me! And it has hurt our work as well. It was refreshing to be at church yesterday. We a lot of the people going back to school left, but we got a couple of new people so that was good. One is an intern down here who was going to school at BYU-I and he said "wow... I am not use to having missionaries in the ward I'm in." Yep he came from Rexburg for sure! We are excited and he can't wait to come out with us. Neither can we. 

Something that I heard yesterday, It was a thought from our bishop, was this; "the most violated commandment is the one to be of good cheer." Isn't that interesting? It was a quote from Elder Holland. We are commanded to be happy and be of good cheer. That means to be positive with what is before is a choice! So is happiness! It was mind blowing so I had to share. 

Hearing that was from Elder Holland just got me more excited for this week. We have the tri-mission conference in Tempe this Saturday. Leading up to that we have zone interviews. I am excited. Last week just the tone for it as well. We had mission leadership council and we talked about tightening up on online obedience and we also talked about our potential. It helped me see a lot of what I can be doing better. 

One thing I am excited about was teaching. This past week we didn't have one lesson with an investigator. We didn't let it keep us down. Tonight we have a lesson with a new investigator that we are excited to teach. His name is E.... It will be good. He just showed up to a church meeting a couple weeks ago in the family ward where he lives.

I am also excited about being positive. Being positive brings positive blessings. So I am trying not to speak bad about anything or anyone. Even myself. Hopefully it will help me be more kind and charitable. Hopefully it will bring hope and faith as well. 

Thanks for your love and prayers. I feel it everyday. I hope you feel mine. 

Love, Elder Jake Wade