Dear My Mostest Favoritest People Ever,  1/4/16

This week was fantastic! I have no idea how I can possibly have so many consecutively fantastic weeks, but I really haven't had a bad week yet! It just doesn't happen! Sure I have bad moments, we all do, but by the end of the day, week, or month it is FANTASTIC! I hope that everything is working well with each and every one of you. So, today is the first day back to school. Man, it feels weird not following the normal schedule, and not even being in school! For 13 years I have had the same annual schedule. But now, NOPE! And I couldn't think of a better way to break the pattern. 

This week was sort of crazy with New Years and things happening. We weren't really supposed to even be out side starting about 6:00pm. New Years Eve. Mostly because downtown Phoenix turns into a drunken mess. But, with our luck, we had some set appointments that we got some special permission to go to. One of those appointments was in downtown Phoenix, and that was quite an experience. It also didn't help that we had the lesson outside. There was this one drunk guy who came over and started trying to bash the Book of Mormon in front of our investigator, but he was so drunk that he made absolutely no sense, and made a pretty big fool out of himself.  But we might try to teach him sometime if he ever gets sober. We had to cancel that lesson and reschedule because it was such a mess. New Years was awesome. We got some haircuts from this really interesting Spanish sister. Hen we went and had a double zone activity. It was awesome, we played sports for about 5 to 6 hours. Then we went home, got ready, studied us some Spanish, and then went and picked up a French man who was recently baptized in the Phoenix Mission, and then drove him to a lesson with the French Sisters that are in our district. He didn't speak English, but I was determined to figure out a way to communicate with him in the car, which, just ended up making him confused. Oye. We sat in that French lesson. And I decided that I really do not like not being able to communicate. ESPECIALLY, when we are taking about gospel principles! But that, combined with learning a new language has made me realize how long and tedious and how much work it takes to learn a language, and to be able to understand and speak. It has given me a new perspective on learning the language of the spirit, and of prayer and revelation. I believe that the language of the spirit is the hardest language that we, as sons and daughters of God, can come to understand and speak. Becoming fluent in that language is the ultimate feat of communication, because that is the UNIVERSAL language. I language that all of God's children can feel and not just hear. Many times in Spanish lessons or even English lessons, the people often remark how they have no idea what we are saying ( probably every Spanish lesson!), BUT they can FEEL what we are saying. That is the language of the spirit speaking to their spirit. And that is the Language that convinces and converts people. It is NOT all the fancy words we say and use. It is the simple feelings that the spirit gives as he speaks to their hearts.

Also, In our area in Downtown Phoenix, there are A LOT of massive hospitals. And because of that, everyone who needs a blessing calls us. So we have the wonderful privilege of giving MANY blessings. They are usually always special and powerful, regardless of how many we give in Acea, the potency of the blessings does not diminish depending on how many we give to those that we do not even know. There was one that we gave yesterday for a man that is 25 years old, had 2 little kids, and who has been in the hospital since September. He has severe condition. And has received over 5 brain surgeries recently. He had hundreds of tubes in him. We could hardly find a spot to lay our hands, but when we laid our hands on his head his eyes immediately opened, which should not have happened due to his sedation and condition. And they stayed opened through the remainder of the blessing. When we finished, there was a light in his eyes. We then left. More happened, but it was so special that I will share it with you privately when I get home. The priesthood is real. It is so wonderful to be able to use it. Like Elder Bednar, I know when there is a power beyond my own, that works in me and through me. The priesthood is real. It grants access to God's power, and if it be in line with His will, you can move mountains. 

I love you all so very much, and I wish you a happy and success full new year. This is the only full, complete year that I won't see you all, but that is it! I will see you next year! See you soon.

Love Elder Flake