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