Serving a mission. BEST DECISION OF. MY. LIFE.                                     12/21/15

HELLO FAMILY! FELIZ NAVIDADES!!! 

What an awesome week. It was a PARTY! I know it has only been about 5 days since I last emailed you all, but so much has happened. So, I will give you a day by day of what happened this week.

Wednesday (after I had emailed you and P-day was over)- we had THE BEST DAY EVER. It was so cool. So, at 6:00, we went to Jo's house and fortified him with the good word, for his baptism on Friday. He still hadn't smoked! But it was pretty hard on him just quitting cold turkey. After that, we went out of our mission with the French Sisters to teach some French Investigators that they have. It was so cool! All of them are refugees from The Congo. A pair of Elders have to go with he sisters because the culture of the Congo is very oppressive of women. They treat them worse then animals. I was not very happy about they treated the wife. If I would have understood what they were saying. I might have shown him what is up. AND HOW TO TREAT A LADIE! ¡QUÉ FREGADOS! And so, a lot of times we have to go so that the men will listen and not do/say anything inappropriate to the sisters. We basically are the French Sisters' body guards! But besides that! I love the French guys! They are pretty cool. After that lesson we were late to a lesson with Wil, so the French sisters drove us straight to downtown Phoenix and just waited for us in the car while we taught Wil. Oh man, Wil's lesson was awesome. We went over his baptism and how it was going to work and all that jazz, and at the end, he told us that it might not have worked as it did, if it had not been for us, his specific missionaries. He said that it could have gone either way. I didn't know about that though, because he was literally the most prepared person that I have ever met. But it was kind. Then we left. OAnd this is where the huge miracle happened... We were walking out, just smiling to our selves and thinking about how wonderfully prepared Wil is and how he truly is an elect of God that did indeed hear and respond to the masters call. A miracle in itself. But we got to the elevators that went down to the parking garage, and the only other person around was this woman. We could tell she was sort of avoiding us, but we both got in to the same elevator. She was trapped:) We simply asked her how her day was, and, not even answering our question, she said rather abruptly, "I feel like I need to talk to you guys." And with that we all stepped out of the elevator onto a secluded floor and talked for some time. She claims that God has been leading her towards the Mormon faith for a long time now. She claims that there have been so many instances and encounters in her life recently with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There is no way she says that it could be happening by coincidence. She says that she sees missionaries EVERYWHERE now. And that all her conversations among friends and coworkers are all about the Mormon Faith, and they aren't even members of the church... Yet;) she says that in these conversations, which are mostly negative and criticizing, she finds herself instinctively defending the church! She is an incredible successful business owner and marketer. She has many homosexual friends and her husband is an episcopalian priest. Plus, many, MANY other things going against her. She mentioned that she foresees herself joining the church, but didn't think it would happen for another couple of years. The events of late have changed that. She said much more, but you are just going to have to read my journal sometime if you want all the rest of the details! But the truly amazing part is all the events that lined up perfectly for us to meet in that elevator at that exact moment. First of all, we try to get members to every set lesson that we have. And we easily could have gotten someone to Wil's lesson, but for the first time on our mission we felt that we shouldn't invite a member with us. Which, is so weird because we've got to have a mission record for the number of member presents. We use members all the time! But we felt we shouldn't, and we didn't, and because of that Wil didn't stop to show  his house, gym, and pool like he always does. If that would have happened the timing would not have worked. Also, the day before, Tuesday, we had had a lesson with Wil as well. And for that lesson we decided to bring someone that we do not usually bring to lessons (because he is a loose cannon in lessons, takes over, is out of control, and sometimes speaks false doctrine). But for some odd reason we felt like we should take him, so we did. And the lesson turned out all right, but he took over and we were not able to teach Wil the lesson he needed right before baptism. So at the end of the lesson Wil was a little overwhelmed by the member we brought and asked us if we could come back the next day, Wednesday. If we wouldn't have brought him, we would have completely missed the woman we met in the elevator. In addition to that, had the French sisters not asked us to go to a lesson with them, we would not have been late to Wils, and the timing would be all off. Plus, he fact that the day was already packed for us when the French sisters asked us to go with them, but, yet again, we felt prompted to go with them. Another thing that happened was that the only reason she was in the elevator at that time was because she forgot her workout shoes in her car, and she had to go get them! And the list goes on and on and on. Explanation: Miracle. Cause: Our Heavenly Father. Conclusion: God indeed lives, and He is, always has been, and always will be a God of Miracles. And parting the Red Sea is a far lesser miracle then the salvation of one of His children. So that was Wednesday. 

Thursday- we went to the temple most of the day. It was amazing, and there were some pretty sacred and special things that were shared by the temple presidency that I am hesitant to write about. Just know that Our Savior does go to His temples spiritually and physically. 

Friday- Jo got baptized! It was a powerful experience. And his brother-in-law who baptized him really struggles with memorizing things and can't read was really struggling with what he had to say. But when he got in the water, he afterwards recounted that he felt this calm, a warmth, and then he recited the words perfectly, which, he had never done before. Explanation: Miracle. Cause: Our Heavenly Father. Conclusion: God indeed lives, and He is, always has been, and always will be a God of Miracles. It was very special. Right after the baptism we hurried to a subway where we met with the woman we met in the elevator. It was a great lesson. She bought us some fancy water. She had some really deep concerns about God having a God. And the Validity about the people that came to Joseph in the Kirtland temple. But she is willing to doubt her doubts before she doubts our faith. We told her that all her concerns would be worked out. And she completely trusted us. At one point she said: "in your faith, which I am sure will soon be our faith," and then she said what she was going to say. She is so ready! 

Saturday- we had another investigator get baptized. Wil! He got baptized and we only started teaching him a couple of weeks ago! He wanted it so bad. And he got his answer, and is going to be a wonderful addition to the church. He is solid and intelligent. How did it happen? Explanation: Miracle. Cause: Our Heavenly Father. Conclusion: God indeed lives, and He is, always has been, and always will be a God of Miracles. These are powerful experiences that I will remember for A LONG time. After the baptism we went and rescued someone from this martial arts guy. And we actually learned a few Korean martial arts moves. After, we taught them. We went and met Wil downtown. We met at his skyscraper and he took us to this restaurant that was on top of this massive hotel. HUGE HOTEL. The restaurant is called the compass, and each plate we had, must have costed over one hundred dollars. It was crazy. The restaurant also slowly rotated as you ate and was so high up that by the end of your meal you had seen all of Phoenix. It was amazing, I was stunned. Fanciest place on earth. I was in full suit and still way underdressed! He said he just wanted to show us his appreciation. It was shocking going for this slum we were teaching in moments before, to this restaurant. And they were minutes apart from each other. Sunday- was awesome, but I will save that for another day. No time! 

I know that God lives and that He is in the details of our lives. He is there, and he is always near. He really is. 

Elder Flake

Dearest                                                      12/16/15

 I am growing a lot. I feel completely different then the man I was just a short six months ago, but we will see! How different was Jacob? 

Well I did get your package, thank you very much! It was much appreciated! But the letters were the best part:) except for the fact that I have not heard from a few of my siblings for a while! But it is all good. As for Christmas, I really do not want anything, so please don't worry about it! I don't need food or clothes or anything, so really, please don't send anything, BESIDES a nice letter from all of you and for my family to just be a little kinder and much more focused on Christ than we have been in the past. If you just want to spend some money on me, please just buy some things for a family in need. Please understand and then live the fact that "It is more blessed to agive than to receive." Acts 20:35. That is, honestly, all I really want. Even though it may not seem much. I promise that these things will make this Christmas the best Christmas that we have ever experienced. Think about it. 

The weeks have been amazing, I have so much to share, and such very little time. But, we have been singing and dancing and performing so much. We wrote the coolest arrangement of Angels we have heard on high! Sometime you'll have to hear it! We are baptizing two of our investigators this week. Wil and Jo. They are both 27 years old and live in completely different worlds. Wil, I am sure is a multimillionaire and lives in about the third tallest building in the state of Arizona. His room overlooks almost all of Phoenix. He is a CFO in the rich part of Scottsdale (Which is saying something because all of Scottsdale is rich) and says that he could easily live there. He is EXTREMELY intelligent and is so knowledgeable about the church already. I think he knows more than I do already! And we have been teaching him for 3 Weeks! And then there is Jo. I LOVE Jo. He is such A GOOD GUY. WOW. Jo, on the other hand, struggles with work, education, and is living with his sister on the same street with one of the local gangs. We have taught him for about three months. We recently caught Jo smoking outside before a lesson one day. AH! That was discouraging. But the. We had a lesson with him, and we talked about if he wanted to quit and if he would quit. And then right after, he took out all his tobacco and poured it into the trash! ON THE SPOT! MIRACLE! And we promised him if he didn't smoke all that week before his baptism he could still get baptized! And so far so good! But we keep going over to help him out, They are the same age and being baptized this weekend, but they are complete opposites and they live just down the street from each other! Only in Phoenix does such diversity exist! It makes for VERY Exciting fast and testimony meeting! In fact the first fast and testimony meeting down here was the first time on my mission that I DIDN'T bare my testimony in English, because I was so shocked and somewhat scared at all the testimonies shared at that meeting! But I still bore it in Spanish;) And I was just in a completely different universe when I was up in the Mountains! Life is crazy, but awesome. We had transfers this week and I am still with Elder W. We are DOING SO MUCH WORK SAVING SOULS! President said that he hadn't seen this much progress in central Ward for A LONG time. We live on the very edge of our mission so sometimes we go out of it on accident. But all is well. We are also, like the only zone in Arizona that has French speaking missionaries, and so we have to go out of the mission a lot and help those sisters out! But that is about it! Oh, except I am a district leader now. Life is good! 

This work is real. It is our Heavenly Father's work, and He is doing it. He doesn't need us, but He lets us help for our own good. There is nothing better to do in the world. The happiness I feel is not normal. Not should I expect it to be, because it is of God. If ever you are sad... Be a missionary and it will change your night to day. I want to be the best I can! I want to be perfect just like Our Savior has asked us to be. And it seemed so impossible, until I got some advice from Elder Lynn G. Robbins last week. He talked about something that he called "spiritual reflexes." That is when having Christlike attributes is instinctive and natural. You do not need to think about it because it is part of who you are. It is a habit that is noticed only when you do not do it. It is a reflex! And so that is the goal. To gain as many Christlike reflexes as possible! I love you much! And I will see you soon! 

Love Elder Flake

Hello Friends!                                                       12/09/15

This week was AWESOME! It was so incredible refreshing and
educational. We are working hard and baptizing lots of people. I think
we have like half a million people in our area, and before we leave we
are going to baptize ALL of them! So send me some prayers would you?
Whatever you have been doing it is working! Keep it up! Miracles are
happening every day, and I hope that they are happening in yours as
well. And, even more so, I hope that you can SEE the miracles that ARE
happening in your life! Because they are there and we just need to see
them! WE MUST WAKE UP! AND OPEN OUR EYES.

I apologize for writing this Wednesday, but today is our Preparation
Day, and next Wednesday as well. Then it will be back to Monday for 6
weeks. Every transfer we have a P-Day on Wednesday. Some miracles that
happened this week were that we found some wonderful people to teach.
We brought a family to the temple: The Visitor's Center and then the
lights. One of them is about to get baptized. Then we had an amazing
conversation with another investigator about repentance for a Huge
issue that he had in the past. But he is getting baptized in a little
over a week. He is amazing. He understands so much and he wants it so
bad. And he is EXTREMELY Intelligent and wealthy. That is extremely
rare. But he is going to be one of my best friends for life. He is so
awesome. Easiest person that I have ever taught... I means it helps
that he took four days off of work to read the entire Book of Mormon,
and the pearl of great price, and he is reading it again. I mean that
helps, but God has really been building him. Before us, he had never
talked to missionaries in his life. He said that he first read the
Book of Mormon skeptically to prove it wrong, but he couldn't put it
down, and by the end of it he knew it was true. He said that he was
inspired and uplifted, and that, when he finished the book, he was
very confused and was looking for the "rest of the Boom of Mormon" to
find out where the other things that people have told him about the
book were. But he couldn't find them. And so he was hooked, and he
went to church, and God touched his heart, and I am pretty sure that
he is going to be an apostle some day! He is willing to give up
EVERYTHING that he has to join this wonderful church. It is quite
touching, seeing as he is a CFO at 27 years old living in the middle
of a city full of prostitution and crime on every corner. And there
are SO MANY MORE MIRACLES! I just don't have time to talk about them
all! I am sorry! I will tell you when I get home!

One of the greatest honors this week was to sit and learn at the feet
of Elder Lynn G. Robbins. What a pleasure. There were 2 different
conferences with him: one in the mountains for the mountain
missionaries, and one for the valley missionaries. I got to go to
both. On Sunday night, all the leadership in the Mission headed up to
the mountains for a special leadership council and training by Elder
Robbins. I do not know why, but President Sweeney invited me. Meaning
that I got to see Elder Robbins every time he spoke while he was on
his tour of the mission. I got to go and stay the night up in Eagar
again and it was AWESOME. I had to go up early to practice a song for
Elder Robbins. All three times that he spoke he spoke for about 4
hours straight, and it was phenomenal. He spoke of things I've never
even thought of. He is an extremely successful businessman, and he
made a lot of really good connections between the two. For the
mountain conference I played for him that armies of Heleman
arrangement that I did. It was awesome, but one of the scariest things
that I've done in my life. It was just awesome. He talked to us a lot
about 100% agency connected to 100% responsibility. But he mostly
talked about love, marriage, raising a family, how to parents, and
some really amazing applicable things. There was just something so
special and different about that man, and about all those men. They
are so dignified and flawless that I sometimes feel that they are not
human. Their intellect is extensive in any subject. He would blow your
mind in any subject that was brought up or every question that he was
asked. Everything about him was stunning.

God knows us all. He is our Father. He loves us, and always will. I love you.

Love Elder Flake

Dearest Family,                                                                         11/30/15

How are you all?!? I love the holiday season, and I hope that you all
are enjoying it! This Season is a little different for me... It is
super strange! I mean... At is very moment this is a picture of what
we're doing!

We are golfing! And I am not going to lie! It is A LOT OF FUN! This thing is more like bowling than golf, but I love it. Notice how sunny and nice it is... And we are outside on the last day of November! Weird... It is kind of uncomfortable. It definitely does not feel like the Christmas season! Plus, being a missionary, you sort of do the same thing year round. But it IS AWESOME because people are more receptive to the message of Jesus Christ! It is Wonderful. We definitely do not and should not need a reason to celebrate and remember Christ, but it works! 

His week has been super crazy. We have taught SO MUCH! And people are being baptized! It is so exciting. We brought an awesome Spanish couple from Guatemala to church and the wife started crying during la Santa cena. It was awesome. She really liked it and wants to come back next week. She is also the sister that fed us thanksgiving dinner, and made me a cake for my birthday and wants us to come by and get free food from her restaurant ALL THE TIME. And I met her last week. She is so sweet. We are definitely going to get her the gospel. She has tasted it and felt it and now she cannot resist! We, also, have been I meeting with our CFO friend. He has committed to be baptized as well in the 19th of December! He lives in the Almost exact center of Phoenix. The exact center is an intersection, and the skyscraper that he lives in is on one of the corners of that intersection. It is so fancy and nice. It is way up in the air and is outside wall is seamless glass overlooking the entire city of Phoenix. The first time we taught there it was sort of uncomfortable for me because it was so high up and out of my element. But now it is cool! He is awesome, and incredibly intelligent. We are meeting with many other families as well. All are doing amazingly. The Lord is hastening his work. This is for real. I hope y'all are doing so good!!! Tell Jacob hello for me. I love you. See you soon!

Elder Flake

11/23/15

Dearest Family,

So life is awesome. It always is. I am exhausted. I am hot. And just
about everything else. BUT I LOVE IT! AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE ANYWHERE
ELSE. All I need more in life is you guys to be here and then I would
be the happiest man alive. It really is incredible fun and happy out
here, but it is by far the hardest thing that I have ever done in my
entire life. I am so excited for the rest of you that still get to
look forward to two years of this wonderful service. I am already so
sad that 6 months have already passed. And honestly, I feel like life
has already been going so ridiculously fast! I do not even know what
to do about it!

His week was very nice. We had a zone conference, and so we had the
wonderful opportunity to be taught at the feet of the President
Sweeney. He taught us about how all things testify of Christ, and,
also, about the Holy Ghost and having it teach us what we need to work
on. Yesterday, there was a French fireside that I was going to play
the piano at, but then a French man decided to play instead. So, I
missed the Spanish fireside that was running at the same time. But it
was so cool! I couldn't talk to these people, and most of them were
from the Congo, but I loved them! They are so cool! They taught me a
little bit of French as well. President Sweeney was there as well.

We have been teaching so many people, but we have been talking to even
more! We talked to sooooo many people this week, and we got a lot of
not very kind things said to us. BUT I LOVE THAT PART! It makes me
respect how precious of message we have. And how we are fulfilling
prophecies, and walking and experiencing things very similar to the
prophets of old. It is awesome! There was this one man that we were
trying to get ahold of, because we felt like he was really important.
And this last Sunday, right before we were supposed to contact him. He
showed up at church! IT WAS AWESOME! It turns out that he is a CFO in
Scottsdale, and that he has already read the Book of Mormon and the
pearl of great price and is reading the Book of Mormon AGAIN! But he
has never ever met with missionaries! He is awesome and ready for the
gospel.

I have, also, experienced the gift of tongues! It is awesome. So the
Elder I am training is an English Elder who I am teaching Spanish, so
I am pretty much on my own speaking Spanish and teaching Spanish
lessons. AND I DO IT! Well, I obviously do not do it. Because I can't
really speak Spanish so good yet, but I can communicate and speak it
and hear it. It is a miracle! And now our Spanish work is picking up
again! We have an awesome family that we are teaching that is SO going
to be baptized, and a few other Spanish families that we have taught
that already have invited us over for Christmas! We helped put some
lights up for them, but they still do not compare to ours! This really
is a miracle!!!

Please know that I am watched over, because I am. Every moment. You
would not believe the places we go. The people we meet. Or the things
that happen. And yet we remain untouched, and healthy, happy, and
strong. God IS with us. We do indeed have angels walking with us and
guarding us. It is dangerous. But we are fine. Thank you for your
prayers of faith. God is watching you as well. BE STRONG. I love you.

Elder Flake

11/16/2015

Dearest Family: I Love You. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!?!?!?!?!? I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. It is UNBELIEVABLE. I don't know where it came from or where it came from, but I. DO. LOVE YOU. EACH and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. You are my Family, and will be FOREVER. You are my favorite people in this entire world. I love you. For Real.

So Mom, I like your haircut. It is very nice. You look very nice. I, also, have a story for you about a very faithful member in my last area. So we were out teaching lessons on my last day in Eagar, and we were swamped. There were so many places we needed to go and people we needed to see, so we were teaching and biking around, and I felt a tugging towards a members house that was in the block. But we try not to see members, especially when we have a lot of investigators we need to teach and baptize and such, but we listened. So we went to the house, and we sat and talked, but we couldn't go in because there was no other male there. But we eventually got it out of her that she was struggling. So we offered a blessing, but she kindly turned us down. So we left, and I was really confused because I KNEW we were supposed to go there for something. So we had a lesson with another investigator, and then we looked at our phone and there were several messages asking us to come back and give a blessing because she had been praying, and she couldn't take her mind off what we had offered: a blessing. So we gave her a blessing. Now this sister has about 4 children of her own and 3 foster children. 4 of those kids are under the age of 5. There house is about the size of a trailer. And her husband is never home. Her foster children recently got diagnosed with some sociological problems dealing with attachment and such... AND THEY ARE HARD CHILDREN. BUT SHE IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE AND DOING GREAT. But she needed help, and God knew that. He always knows. The blessing that I was privileged to be an instrument in answered specific questions and gave her the strength to fight. MORAL OF THE STORY: God knows. If any of you ever need a blessing... ASK. It will bless your life AND the person giving it. IT IS NEVER AN INCONVENIENCE TO USE THE POWER OF GOD. It is an honor.

I did not like your DETAILED email! That was not funny! But I still love you! Alright, I will give you a few more details. So central Phoenix is very strange. There is no grass, in fact, there is not even dirt for grass to grow on! Besides that dirt in the air! There are almost NO open places ANYWHERE. Massive buildings everywhere. It is very tricky to get around especially with training a new missionary who doesn't know the area very well either. But the most important details are the people. The people are wonderful, and humble. They have different ideas and ways of doing things, but they are wonderful. In our area there is exceedingly much poverty. This week has been heartbreaking and soul searching for me. The homeless and the mentally impaired, who are found, by the dozens, on every block has taken me back. Even to crying to God and asking Him why and How these horrible things happen to such helpless and unable children of God. And I understand now. All will be well I the end. I have felt that truth confirmed in my heart. All will be fair and well in the end. We must, simple, Trust God, and Hope in Good things to come. I was comforted and felt that God knows each one of those children and that He is watching them closely, and that He does indeed Love them. Oh the Comfort and Relief and PEACE I felt when I understood this. God lives and does know all. He does not forget is. He does not leave us. HE WILL NEVER ABANDON US. Even if we try to run away and hide!

I love you and hope the best for all of you.

You are in my prayers!

-Elder Flake

Dearest Family,                                                         11/11/15

Well this is my predicament. I have recently come from the farthest
eastern area of the mission known as Eagar, but we also covered ALL of
New Mexico in our mission. We were the only Elders in New Mexico. It
was crazy! So one day I was biking in snow and the next day I was
transferred to Central Phoenix!!! It is AWESOME. It is interesting,
because my new area is the very farthest west area in the very
farthest west zone in the ENTIRE mission! There is no area in the
entire mission that is farther from my last area. So a little bit
about the central Pheonix area. It is known as he center of the city.
We are dead center in the middle of Pheonix, and I have never seen so
many people in my life. The area I am serving in had been pegged as
the poorest and most dangerous and rough part of the mission. It is
interesting how all those things fit together! So don't worry mom! I am
in the most dangerous part of Arizona! There are places here we can't
even be around! (But don't really worry, I will be fine. Check my
patriarchal blessing for proof) IT IS AWESOME. But also quite sad. The
people are not normal. BUT THEY ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT TO GOD AS HIS
COWBOY CHILDREN UP IN EAGAR! I love them and I really will do ALL THAT
I POSSIBLE CAN to bring them to Jesus Christ and make them happy. But
it definitely is going to be work, more work than I have ever
attempted in my life. AND on top of that, President has entrusted me
to train a new missionary. So I am training in a new area. And he is
in an English elder who I have to teach Spanish, because here in
Pheonix THERE IS A LOT of Spanish people and all the others are black,
not so many white people (besides a few Hoboes) here in Pheonix. So
this transfer is supposed to create stress and foster growth and I
think it will! It was quite a shock going from freezing and snow to
SUPER HOT and sunny. It honestly shook my body up, which, was a
strange feeling.

My new companion's name is Elder W. He is from Utah and is the
Oldest of three. He is on a mission because the gospel makes him happy
and he thinks, and I agree, that the gospel has made him happy and he
wants everyone else to be happy too!!! His favorite color is blue. He
plays basketball and is really good at the guitar. He is going to be a
great missionary and I sincerely hope that God will use me to help him
get on a path to reach his full potential as a missionary. But we
shall see. With God ALL things are possible! I believe that. I really
do, and that is why I am going to be able to do any of this. It is
wonderful that He is willing to help!

Well, I love you all. And I know the church is true. It is. See you soon!

Elder Flake