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 

Another Transfer has came and gone...

It is amazing how fast time is going... It seriously feels like this year just started. Now it is practically over. It is almost disappointing. It has been great though. This transfer was by far the fastest. But I feel like I have done a ton of growing. So yes I am staying for another transfer! YAY!

It is super humbling when you have a missionary that you are around finish their mission and return home. Yesterday we saw Elder Wilson off... That was super hard. He was so nervous. All during studies yesterday he was pacing because he was just couldn't sit still. He was excited to see family though. It makes you think of the time we have left on our missions and it isn't a lot at all. All three of us at our apartment have been out the same time. This week we hit our 17 month mark! That is super weird. Luckily enough we have a lot of work to do to keep us busy. We did have a baptism on Saturday. That was good. Right now we haven't had too much but we have enough. Everyone is going home for Christmas and our ward is disappearing. We are staying busy though giving new member lessons and trying to get people back to church. It is good. 

So funny story with J...'s baptism. ......

After that it was a fantastic baptism! But that whole hour was so nerve racking!! But it helped me build some patience in others.

So there is my lesson learned for the week. It was a great week though. We had Christmas Conference and that was so good! I need another good trip to the temple. I enjoyed it. The Christmas lights are great here! It seems like they deck that place out. I enjoy it. 

Everything is going well. It seems like you all having a good time in the freezing cold Idaho. Honestly I haven't had to wear a sweater at all the last two days. It is too hot. Dad stay warm. We don't want you to be driving around in and 'ice Cube' haha! Get it? ice cube! Or frozen Pea soup. Either one stay warm. 

Jayse congrats at taking 3rd! That is great! That is like me I took third my 8th grade year too. And guess what I lost to the mountain view kid too. But you can do better. You are stud keep it up. Build your team up. 

So next week will be calls home. I can skype or facetime. Either one I can do either or. Let me know! Have a great week! 

Love, Elder Wade     

Happy Thanksgiving

Holy Cow!

It has been such a good week! It started off with the assistants calling us and doing a surprise exchange. That was fun. I got to know the new assistant pretty well. He is pretty cool. A lot of the times you look at him and think he is really straight forward. It was nice to see that he is a normal guy that struggles with things just like we all do. Hopefully others will see that he really is a loving guy. So there is one thing I am thankful for: Great leadership. That includes my mission president and others that help me a lot. That doesn't exclude all of you back home that have lead me through a lot.

This weekend was probably the best I have ever had. I couldn't have asked for better. For starters we had two baptisms. C.... who is a stud and will be a strong example for his family and I can see him being a great leader in the Church. He had a family thing so he wasn't able to make it to church yesterday but he will be confirmed next week P.... is amazing as well! He is officially the 2nd person on my mission that I have performed the ordinance of baptism for. He is a boss. He was confirmed and conferred the Priesthood and ordained a Priest yesterday. He has a great testimony. Another thing that I am grateful for is my testimony. It has helped through a lot over this adventure that I am on. 

Along with those baptisms, I was able to go to the P........'s temple work. That was the most spiritual powerful experience I have had. I was impressed that the love that they have for each other is only stronger now. They have something that binds them closer then anything that could have before. I think the sealing was the best for me. The spirit hit me like a wave when the two boys walked in. It was amazing! It helped me see my family and how important you are to me. Even though we had some rough times, they are not nearly as rough as people I have seen. A lot of the things I have gone through ,I can't have done it without my family. Heavenly Father is pretty smart guy... He knows what he is doing. 

I am excited for this up coming month. Even though it is cooling down, it still doesn't seem like it that time of the year. I am excited to announce that for my next couple times I call home, it will be through skype! President just told that to us today. It will still be the same time, but it will be great to see you all. 

Love You! 

Elder Wade         

Meetings ..meetings busy busy

Hey!

So you are probably wanting to know who my companion is. I think I might play with for a little bit... He is a companion that I have had before. To narrow it down. Elder K... is a zone leader in Goodyear, Elder G... is in Tempe. Elder L..... Elder S. is in Glendale North. So... That leaves just one. I was super surprised when President announced we would be companions! It is Elder B..! My MTC companion! He is such a stud. Love him to death. It is kind of funny to tell people we were companions in the MTC. The usual responses are "I'm sorry"-mostly from the ysa members. Or "wow that is really neat!" So that is pretty exciting. I am excited because last time we worked together we weren't the best teachers at all and we had no idea of what we were doing. So it is going to be nice to see what we can do with our feet under us.

This past week. They changed it so we have four districts in our zone and we go to all of their district meetings. So that was a lot of learning. We also had Stake Coordination, when the zone and district leaders meet with a member of the mission presidency and the stake president and the high councilman over missionary work, and we talk about things we can do to work together. Elder B...., two sisters in our zone, and I also had a great opportunity to sit on a panel in a stake presidents coordinating council, with the area 70. Wow. That was a great experience. Not because we were able to do that, but it gave me a new out look of what I need to be doing and asking ward leaders to help with. It is crazy, because before your mission you hardly ever sit down and discuss things with a bishop or stake president. Now I am having daily and weekly contact with them. Some more blessings the Lord teaches on a mission.

This next week is going to busy as well. I might be able to see snow! We have a mission tour this week with Elder Teh of the 70. We are meeting him with a couple other zones in Sedona. It is like a 2 hour drive from where we are. I haven't had a 2 hour drive in awhile so it is going to be kind of nice. Also Elder Barley and I get to speak in front of the bishops at a meeting on Tuesday. I am kind of nervous about that. They are expecting a lot. 

So ya if you can't tell we have and are having a lot of meetings. It is good though it helps us use the time we have effective and not waste it. Keeps us busy. Yes, I really do like meetings, not because it is a time filler, but I get to see what I can do to improve. Most importantly it helps us see what we can do to help the people we teach. We still have two next weekend. And another on the 14th of Dec. Hopefully more on the way. 

Seems like all of you are busy as well. I can't imagine life without being busy, back home. We were always doing something and going somewhere. Jayson good luck this week. Keep moving and don't get sloppy! Love ya I hope you know that. 

I Love all of you as well! 

Elder Wade    

Do I stay or do I go

Hey everyone!

So the big question is am I staying or leaving? I was really surprised when we got the news this morning. And I am staying but Elder W...... is getting transferred, but he doesn't have to pack. Which means he will still live with us and I will get a new companion! I am super nervous and excited. I don't know what to think. I just know that is going to be an interesting transfer meeting tomorrow. I have learned so much from Elder W...... He is so legit. He is excited he doesn't have to pack. I am just excited he still in the zone.  

In other news... IPads are still great. A lot easier this time then last time. We taught a couple skype lessons last week. That was pretty neat. Facebook is easier and a lot more productive. Speaking of, I can be tagged in posts, I personally would prefer if they were mostly missionary related, and please do share my posts. If you do then not only my 900 friends see it but also yours, pretty soon 100s of thousands see it and it is just another seed. Oh and dad, nice profile pic btw. 

This past week the work is really showing. Our zone is doing great as well. Last month we had two baptisms which isn't bad, but we are capable of a lot more. We really have been pushing always living your purpose and inviting and finding. So this past week showed. We got Standards of Excellence as a zone. It was super good. We can still do a lot better. I love this zone and ward.

In one my studies this past week I was learning about using time wisely and there was a personal study from it that you answered a couple questions and one is what do you want people to see in when finish your mission. That is a hard one. One thing that I love about the mission is that it molds you for the rest your life. I am not saying I did bad things at home, but I know I could have been better. So I am doing that now. I am trying to live my purpose, in doing that I have seen my own life get closer to Christ and it helps me. We still are doing well, we have two baptisms coming up on the 23rd. Excited for that and looking forward to another crazy week! 

Oh and the weather this week was perfect. Thought I would have my Prideful moment for the day. 

Good Luck! Love you all thanks for being my examples! 

Love, Elder Wade  

Trials=greatest blessings‏

Hey there!

Welcome home Joe! That is pretty exciting. It is crazy how fast time has gone. My comp goes home in about a transfer.  He goes home  right before Christmas, he is pretty excited about that. It is kind of funny, people ask how long I have been out and I tell them about 15 months and they are like wow... You are on the downhill, or they comment how when they got to that point, it seemed like everyone from home forgot about them. Then they ask Elder Wilson and he tells them 22 and then comes all the trunky jokes. It is kind of funny. I guess that is what you get for being in a singles ward, where all of them have served missions already. 

One thing that I do really like about this ward is that we don't have to worry about what people say or if they will offend them. They do a great job of fellowshipping everyone that comes to church.  This week I saw something that really built my testimony while teaching . We taught  at our Bishop's house. It was such a powerful lesson.  I really think it is because it was the first time we taught her in a member's home. It is the closest place to the temple. It would be neat if we could teach at the temple but we have the next best place. So our homes are temples. 

So next week will be different, just giving you a heads up here. I have a meeting on Monday so my p-day will be on Tuesday. Then the next week is transfers, so again P-day is on Tuesday. 

I looking forward to Halloween and such. People go all out here. So we have to be in by six. But you can really start to feel the fall in the air. It is a great feeling. Missing my four seasons of Idaho though- XC, wrestling, track/more wrestling, Summer. Jayse hope you know that you are a stud. When you go on that mat, no matter who it is, remember that you are there now and there is nothing in the past that matters. "Learn from the past, don't live in it." I don't care if it is Stacy or Ramos, they are no better then you. You have to push through any fear or road blocks you have. A lot of the things I learned from wrestling have helped me a lot out here. It is surrounded by eternal principles. 

I love you all have a great week. 

Elder Wade 

Conference Weekend !!!

Hey!!

This past weekend was like super bowl Sunday on the mission. It was fantastic. I loved conference. It truly was one of the most inspiring yet! Us as missionaries in particular really liked the ones on member and missionary work. Elder Ballard's was great. Pick one person and work with them in either coming back to church or joining the church and work with them until Christmas. That was such a good invite. We really enjoyed it. I also really liked Elder Oaks. I just like how he makes it so real by throwing stats in their. It was a conference stacked and packed with all great speakers. 

Mom as you saw conference wasn't the only meetings that we had this week. Unfortunately I don't know what whiteboard picture you are talking about. We were introduced into the "adjusting to mission life" booklet and were trained on that. We have already been applying it in our companionship. Wish I would have had it when I was a new missionary. We also were trained on the theory that there is always a good idea, better idea, and the best idea. We tied that in with out of the box thinking and getting new ideas how to find, use church buildings, online time, etc... Super good and we then got to go back and share that with the rest of the zone on Friday. So really the only days last week that we didn't have a meeting was Monday and Thursday. Crazy, but fun and needed. 

Cool experience: We have this less active girl in our ward that hasn't came to church . This girl was on her way to Flagstaff for the weekend with some friends. While driving the driver made a sudden over correction. Went into the ditch and the car rolled three times. Fortunately no was killed. The girl, though, was taken to the E.R. By then the mom called us and asked if we could get missionaries there to give her a blessing. The Elders came gave a blessing and a... could feel this sudden comfort. She knew that she would be ok. It turns out that the first thing that she did when she was conscious was pray. She broke a vertebra in her neck and is doing fine now. She will always remember this. You can tell that the Lord works in ways that we can never understand. She was grateful that she was raised in a home where she was taught that she could always pray. I am too. 

We all have different experiences, but we all have the same plan to get back to our Heavenly home. 

Thank you, I love you. Have a great week! 

Love Elder Wade     

Ofa Atu

Hey!

How is everyone going? It has been a fantastic week. We have been super busy. I wish it could have been from doing missionary work, but it was more of helping other missionaries so they can do their work. It is okay. We are starting to get back in the groove of things and they are going great. We did have transfers last week and we had 10 missionaries leave and we got 14 back. We now have a zone of 24 missionaries total. It is pretty big. But it isn't the biggest. The biggest is about 32 missionaries. It is huge!! We now live with one Elder Wilson's old companions. He is Elder Moala from Tonga. He is the best and has gotten me back into lifting, and my arms are super sore... We seeing a hymn out of his hymn book every night. It is pretty fun. We love him. 

Our baptism this weekend was great! He was so excited. He has had a really rough life so far. I hope that the Church can be that light that he needs. He is great and the ward is getting used to him. He was just so happy. In his Baptism presentation we shared about our potential and how God defines us. What I like about Elder Wilson is that we never teach like lesson 1 or lesson 2 but we share something that we know that they need to hear. We have seen a lot more from it and the Spirit is so much more stronger. We read this poem to them: 

 ’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile.

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?”

“Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no …

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow.

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

 1. 

These lines of poetry and the others that appear in this article are from Myra Brooks Welch, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand,” in Best-Loved Poems of the LDS People, ed. Jack M. Lyon and others (1996), 182–83.

I just thought that this was a powerful poem that describes where a lot of people either are or have been in their lives. I hope you read the article that I posted the other day on Facebook. I am grateful for the the atonement in my life. When I felt like I was at my lowest. He reminded me of the highest potential that I have as a Child of God. I now he loves me and that he gives me challenges for a reason. 

Ofa Atu means I love you and I really do. Thank you for being so supportive. All of you don't know how much you mean to me. Be safe, until next week. 

Ofa Atu, 

Elder Wade  

If I have to pack again, so help me!!

Hey!! 

So if you read my subject the first thought that comes to mind is probably transfer. But... That isn't true. We have transfers this week, and our zone is going to be completely different. In our mission we have 5 leaving and 25 coming in. I thought it would start slowing down, but I guess not. Because of this influx of missionaries. Elder Wilson and I had to move somewhere else so it would be more convenient for everybody: New Address: 

                                                            Elder Wade 

                                                  (If you want the address - contact Jake's mom)

So in a rush they wanted us to be moved in to our apartment by last night so we can help everyone else who is coming in on Wednesday move in to their new place. We quickly moved last night. And We are now moved in which it is a pretty nice place. First place with Hardwood floors. 

It has been a crazy week though. I don't feel like it is time for transfers. It is making me sad for how fast it is going. We didn't teach too much but, I am getting better at talking with everyone. I found out that I was just making it too awkward and wasn't being myself. I finally just got over it. I then went out with a missionary that was forcing it and it was like dude calm down. They already don't want to talk to you the best you can do is look comfortable. I am not the best, but I am starting to have fun with it. I saw that Joe comes home in a couple weeks. Dang that went by fast. That is going to be exciting for him to come home and see all the additions to the family.

So you know how I talked about education last week? Well I discovered another possibility for a profession... I think it would be way neat to be an Attorney for the church. We were on a ward blitz and the member of the bishopric and a member of the Elder's quorum presidency. They began talking about the church and how this world doesn't like our standards now. They brought up that a lot of people are starting to take things to court. It would be cool to fight for what I believe in a be on a whole new level. 

That is pretty much for this week. We have a baptism this week. Looking forward to that. Stay safe and injury free (Jayson)! Dad good luck with your bike. Love you all! 

Elder Wade   

 

Education Week

It has been a great week! Learned a lot, mainly it was really humbling. The last week we didn't have time to plan so that made this week super sparatic. We taught a few lessons and they went really well. We have C.....who still on date for the 28th. He is an interesting guy.   That is why the Lord wants us to get a good education and job. 

So to continue on the theme of education... We had the director of the local institute speak to our ward yesterday. It was super good and really motivating. He brought up how knowledge is power and think of heavenly Father who is the most powerful person out there. A couple quotes from it was; "The world will pay you for what you do well, and what you love is what you will do best.""Pursue and occupation that when you don't have to think about anything, that's what you will think about." It showed me how much I want to do something I love and how much I love missionary work. The world doesn't pay you for missionary work though, but that is alright. The Lord pays in blessings in happiness. It is super rewarding to do what you love. This all relates to another quote I heard a couple weeks ago. "To do something you have not become, you have to do the things that you have not done." So if I want to be a stellar missionary I need to do things that great missionaries do. Made me look forward to school after the mission. My study habits are ten times better then they were before. I have time until then. 

I hoped you learned that it isn't good to eat to much before a race or even a match. I also thought those kids were stupid that would eat a meatball sub before the wrestled and they threw up in the middle of it. So lesson learned. I learned that facebook is great. A lot of success has came from it lately. Good to hear that everyone is doing well. I hope you all have a great week.

I want to leave an invite: Look for someone to share why families are important to you. 

I love you so much. You are all great examples to me. 

Love, Elder Wade       

September???

Man time is going too fast. It has been a fantastic week! Our Zone was cleared to start online proselyting so we have been clearing moromn.org and facebook pages, but it is good to see the progression. This last week we had zone conference and we discussed a lot of principles vs rule and also building our faith. It is cool to see that those two are so connected. I love that fact that we are expected as people in these last days to live a higher law. Not in a "look at me I am better then you" but to live with the purpose that is going to bring a lot joy, true joy. Being here I have noticed that people look at us and think we have a ton of rules. They think that we are held back from having fun. They are searching for happiness from temporary things. There is also those that say that we are saved by grace and we don't have to do anything. Yeah his grace will save us but how would you feel in God's presence after you were doing things that you know weren't good? I am guessing you would feel unworthy, but you are able to govern yourself by living correct principles. And what is a principle? It is something that will prepare us for living the full thing in the life to come. Living this you are able to gain blessings and even bonus blessings. Elder Wilson and I this week have been focusing on being accountable not held accountable. The principle behind it is that is fact that we will go before God and be judged after this life. We should account to him first off and you won't feel guilty of what you did or did not do. Living the principle doesn't exempt the rule, look at the early jews they have tons of rules for keep the Sabbath holy, but now we have the principle that helps us see why of doing things. 

My mind is just blown of how easy this life is. All you need to do to gain a testimony is to read the scriptures, pray and come to church. It is that simple. Does that mean we won't have trials? No of course not we would have no real growth but you are exercising your faith and building on it. That is how S.... is and she has a stronger testimony then probably 90% of the church. 

Jarret sorry I didn't tell you happy birthday, but I forgot, not going to lie. Ha Happy late birthday, you're old. Hope all is well keep smiling and Happy Labor Day!!!

Love Elder Wade  

First time ysa

Hey!! 

Hope you all had a great week! Dad hope you had a great birthday, you are like 60 now? ha just kidding. 

This week has been such a great week. Being a Zone Leader is a total different experience, a lot more errands and a lot more meetings. It has been way fun though. Elder Wilson is the man, love him to death. He is a pro at talking with everyone which I am not so good at, so hopefully I can get better while I am with him. The good thing is that we have a fantastic zone full of great missionaries that are hard working. The weird thing is that I am like the 2nd oldest in the zone... We have such a young mission. It just means that we have to rely on the older missionaries to train and help the younger ones. 

Being in a the Phoenix North YSA is super cool. It is way different then being in a family ward, because of being with older people we are with people our age. So they really want to be your friends. They are way funny. We don't have too many investigators right now, because it is way different finding experience as well. We do have one on date right now here name is S...., she came 45 minutes early to church just to read from the Book of Mormon. She is also high school Spanish teacher. Way cool! 

Other than that it has been a huge learning experience. Jarret you are crazy. I am the only in my apartment that likes to run... We will work on that. But I love you and appreciate all that you do for me. You have put me through a lot. 

Love, Elder Wade