Christmas Celebrations

Hey Family!

Today we went to the temple! It was a wonderful, awesome experience. I love that place. So sweet. I really like going there, I just get all pumped inside, and stoked to be alive. And I learned a lot today. Which was cool. You guys should hit that place up. A lot haha I wish I could go more, but that day will come.

I have been extremely tired lately. I have been beat. I may or may not have fallen asleep for a second there in the temple. So when I was in the temple and I was thinking and praying aboput what I could do to make my life better, a little more exciting or something to give me more energy. So the thought came to me that I need to be more grateful, I need to look for the fantastic things in my life more often! I also will try and study about love a bit more so that I can help my love grow for the people around me, and find ways to express my love and gratitude to them. I gotta rep the name! I am excited to see the changes this will make in my life. I was so tired today that I fell asleep on the bus going home (not uncommon by any means) and began to drool. The little old lady next to me I'm sure had a great laugh and was even kind enough to wake me up when my companion got off the bus.

I love old people. Last week I did a batismal interview with a 76 year old lady. Super funny lady. During the interview, we discovered that she had been drinking coffee ever since she was a child, was born and raised on a coffee farm! And she had been drinking ever since. During the interview I helped her to understand that it was a commandment from God (which she hadn't understood before). I challenged her to follow God, and stop. She accepted! Then I informed her that she would have to wait one more week for her baptism. She didn't like that. She told me that she was (in my words) a tough old cookie, and she was not going to let coffee get in the way of her salvation. "If God wants me to stop, Ill stop right now, and Ill nbever drink again!" She was extremly determined in this, and I was impressed with this woman's faith.Was incredible. Just do what the Lord wants, its that simple! She stopped, and was baptized the next day!

This last week has been crazy, I spent the majority of the week in division. Super crazy. And tiring. But It was great, I learn so much from these Elders. Im pretty blessed to get to learn from these guys all the time.

I am extremely excited about the family calendar!The shoes are good, I like em! However, I have already managed to open up the front end so they leak. What a freakin ogre. The 2nd day! I will need another pair, as my first two are completely shot! These new ones are still good, and very classy, and I assume will last me til the end. Buts its always good to have two pairs to give them a day to dry when it rains. Everyday. :) I think eccos might be the champion of shoes. Those things were troopers. And the square toed ones also look beautiful and are comfortable. Just an idea.

Ill get the chirstmas package on christmas eve. We will have some kinda conference on that day. Also we have one more fireside Sunday in Sao Paulo. (we only will do two, the third is em the Baixada an will be other missionaries). Should be a blast. This week we found an amazing family! Giovanni and Priscila. A young couple we are legally married! They went to church with a member and loved it! They will probably be baptized this week. They have so much faith. I love them. Also, Kerson who we baptized a few weeks ago, his mother will be baptized Sunday. She is super excited. Man she was a toughie. She wanted to be baptized but mais para frente, in January or febuary. For some reason wanted to put it off. Then, I did a divison with Elder J.Harris, my beloved ex-companion who is now a district leader in the zone. We told her: "Imagine on my hand is a present that will make you family happier. Do you want it? (yes) When?" She paused for a moment, and then looked at me and said what day can I be baptized?And we marked it for this sunday! She then told us that for some time she felt something really strongly that she needed t be baptized. And that she and been resisting those feelings. And she was finally being honest with herself. Woohoo! What a wonderful miracle. I love Elder J. Harris.Another great chance to learn a leason on simplicity from a great elder.

Phone call. Hmm I just found out I dont have another Pday before christmas. So, Im pretty sure Ill have to call you guys during the week, I have NO IDEA what I'm going to do about this phone call. But I will figure it out and proly send you and email or something.

Three-way tie for third? haha I had a little flash back the other day when we were in this house at lunch and this boy and his lil sister were fighting. The boy was just wailing on her, going to town! My companion hit he when I tried to give the little girl a fork to defend herself. haha you just gotta find a way to learn to enjoy these situations.

I was sad to hear the news about W's tryouts, but its okay. You guys are still my heros.

Hows Dave doing? I like that guy a lot! I told a group of missionaries about him the other day. I love how he goes to church in mocasins. Not gonna lie, pretty jealous of that. The guy knows whats up. I miss him, I hope hes doing well.

Well, guess what, time ran out again, way before I wanted it too. I gotta send some forms to president and havent done it... Man, gotta repent!

Well I love you all! Have great week! Tachau tchau!

Love, Elder Jake

Christmas in Brazil = hot

Dear People,

Its begining to look a lot like ... summer! It is getting hot here. Not too bad as of yet, but the temperture is definitely getting up there. It doesnt really feel like Christmas yet, though I'm trying to get to that point. Its way harder to get into the spirit when its hot, but the hymns and the christmas lights (the few) help out! The Brazilian christmas is pretty much the same as that of the US, just hotter, and way more low key (A Braslian pattern-low key). There are few christmas trees and such, but its all good :)

I am finally starting to get a hang of this area. It was a hard adjustment, espcially because I have spent so much time in divisions and meetings that I havent gotten to work in the area that much. Kinda sad. But I'm getting there! Thanks for the letter from Sister Perez. Really a great Sister person. I look up to that family a lot. How's Sister Lauren?

Cheyenne got baptized! NO WAY! That is incredible! I really like that part. I tried to explain foster care and all to my companion, so that he could understand how pumped I am. Who knows if it worked, but I'm excited! Is her husband going to church? Yea Mom, you're right, prettty much made my week. And thanks for the scripture mom, I know that was a really hard time, specially for you as a mother, but I am really glad the Lord has such great plans.

Sounds like you met with a ton of great people this week Mom!

Sunday night we had the first fireside for the mission, and it was in my last area! There were so many wonderful people there. I loved it, so many good friends. Reminds me of the hymn, each life that touches ours for good, reflects thine our great mercy Lord. Really believe thats true. I ahave been thinking a lot about angels this week. And how the Lord uses angels to bless us. And how angels dont have to be someone from heaven, can be your neighbor, of the kid on your street, or whoever! We just have to feast upon the words of christ, and pray always (2 Nephi 32) and we can be angels to help others, to uplift, to inspire and to bless.

The fireside was great. I really loved being able to sing, and to bear testimony. I had the chance to quote the first vision during "Joseph Smiths first Prayer" It was really cool. I was worried about the actor in me going overboard and trying to milk it too much. I prayed alot that I can instead of show off my manly voice ;) I could bare testimony. And I thin it worked. The Lord is absolutely with us, all of us, to help us in even the smallest things. Was a really wonderful spirit there at the Fireside. The chapel was so full (500 plus people!) that we had to do a second show that same night with another 300ish.It was cool.

While I was there, I was washing my hands in the bathroom and this man next to me asked me how I was doing. I said I'm great and almost walked away when I remembered him! I interviewed him for baptism in Praia Grande in Julyish. He remembered me. And was really grateful for all I did (which I thought was very little). He then he asked if he could introduce me to his fiancee. Super cool. He is going to get married in the temple! This man was a great example to me. When he stopped drinking coffee back in the day, he started taking this coffee-like Barley drink (cevada) to work and everyone there stopped drinking coffee there! So sweet. It was a good experience to see him (expecially so far away from Praia Grande) and to realize that I will never know the effect of my mission until the 2nd coming. I am so glad that I could be an instument in the Lords hands to help this man on some level.

Tell Pres. P hi! I told my comp about him last week. He is one of my heros.

Well, I am gonna try and get some pictures out to ya. [It didn't happen so nothing to post.] I love you all! Have a great week!

Love, Elder Jake

Being grateful can turn . . .

My wonderful family, and other wonderful creatures,

Its been awhile! I had an extremely busy week last P-day, and we didn't have time to go to the internet cafe. The mission is doing a Christmas fireside thing, and I am in change of putting together a quartet for it. So we had to sing on Pday, as we will today in a bit. This is the 4th Pday in a row that I don't have time to do anything! Letters, laundry, cleaning the house, sleep, and all those tings are gonna have to wait til... next transfer? AHHH!!!

Im getting tired, having a hard time waking up on time. 4 weeks without that power nap is a crazy adventure. Taking a break is really important! But yesterday I slept through my alarm. By quite a lot. I'm gonna ask for forgiveness and all, but I'm also gonna count that as a blessing... Now I'm doing great :)

My birthday was rather uninventful. But I liked it! I got up in the morning and opened a letter from Dad, and a letter from Julianne, and my other shoe package. It was a pretty good way to start out the day. Nobody knew about my birthday so nothing to exciting happened during the day, but my old comp Elder Areas gave me a call with a member from my old ward and wished my happy birthday. That was simple but made my day. That and the legos. Such a great gift, haha Thanks! Thanks for the packages and for the letters!

My companion every once in awhile calls me "Uncle Jake" now, haha! Its pretty funny, and it still blows my mind that my bro is a pop. Pretty crazy, and pretty cool. I also chokedon my pen when i saw that Lexie is engaged. Whoa! Another one bites the dust haha What a crazy world. Everybody is growin up! Lexie! Shes 16! At least last time I checked.

I almost forgot about thanksgiving! I also almost forgot about my birthday, but that ones a lil easier to remember. Thanksgiving was spent knocking doors, getting rejected and walking a lot in the rain. But boy am I grateful. I thought a lot about the blessings I had in my life. Being grateful can turn what would be a lame day into a wonderful day. Just gotta decide which one you want!

We had a cool experience the other day. We were passed on the road by a lady muttering some sort of prayer. Kinda scared me to be honest. But we talked to her and asked her if we could help. She was prety distressed, and said her son was missing. My companion looked her in the eye and told her "as a representive of Jesus Christ here on the earth, I promise you if you go home and wait, your son will come home" I liked that. I think I forget of the power we have to promise people things like that in the name of the Savior. We went to her house yesterday and her son had come home soon after her. We taught them and I'm hoping they will go to church this week!

We are teaching a few families that need to be married, but they are progressing! We should have a wedding on the 18th. Should be a blast.

21 seems super super old to me! Way old. My hair will start falling out any day now. Wow. I can buy beer! And a gun! I feel like Im getting old. I made some goals this week to maintain energy and excitement as my time on the mission presses on. I'm gonna try and do a lot more excercises. Something extremely hard to do because of how hard we work slash how much we half to walk. But I'm sure this, along with more reading of the Book, will help me maintian energy, and excitment!

Sounds like everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving weekend! I did too :) I love you all! Have a fantastic week, thanks for everything!

Love Jake