Week 35 Merry Christmas!!

Skype selfie :)

Hello everyone I'm super boring when I start these and usually say the
same things over and over haha. This week was one of the best so far!
Here's the recap! Also Happy 16th Birthday to my sister Olivia :) liv
just don't hurt Julius while I'm gone please and also don't go on a
date please ;)

Monday: P day! Probably the best p day yet too! So we woke up on the
ship and then got off in Toulon, and then drove to Nice for our big
zone p day! It was soooo nice to be back in Nice. Nice will always
have a special place in my heart I love that place so much. So we hung
out at the church and played basketball and just had a great time :)
then at about 5 we went and visited the Cresto family which was one of
the greatest things of this Holliday season. I love them absolutely so
much wow. We walked around nice and looked at the Christmas lights and
then we went to their house and just chatted for a little bit. And
then we drove from Nice to Aix-en-Province where we stayed the night
in a Best Western.
Tuesday: So we woke up and walked to the Aix en Province chapel where
a big bus picked up The Nice Zone and the Aix Zone and we road tripped
to Lyon! What a great day! When we got to Lyon the whole mission was
there and I saw my old companions and I saw so many people who I love
so much!! So we met up at the Confluence which is a really cool place
in Lyon where Le Rhone and La Sionne meet up and President Brown
talked about some really cool things there. Then as a mission we all
just hung out and played sports at a nearby park and I talked with
Elder Barnes for a good while. Love him a lot. Then we went to the
aquarium in Lyon and they have a big conference center that was rented
out for us and President talked to us and then we had some funny games
played and then we watched "The Lion King" :) haha I love Disney
movies so much.
Wednesday: Such a great day. We woke up and went to the Écully chapel
where we had the main part of mission conference and it was so amazing
and so spiritual! After conference we all got back on the bus and
headed back to Aix where we grabbed our car and then drove to Toulon
and then took the boat back to Ajaccio! So many good things happened
on Wednesday but I can't even begin to write them all...so just know
it was an incredible day!
Thursday: Christmas Eve! So we woke up on the ship and then docked
into Ajaccio. We contacted a little bit and then we had a RDV at the
Antonetti's house and they fed us a huge Christmas Eve meal and it was
sooo good. My sweatshirt took fire as well which was kinda funny. Then
we went and door bell ditched Marie rose and left her a present from
"Papa Noel" which was awesome.
Friday: Joyeux Noël!! What an amazing day. So we went to Marie Roses
house and her and Sylvia and Noel made a big Christmas lunch for us
all and so we hung out there for a while and ate and played some games
:) then we skyped home!! Haha gosh it was so good to skype home I have
the greatest family ever :) also it was good to see that I'm still the
funniest in the family and still my moms favorite ;);) after skyping
we sang some carols and then went home! I know it's kinda cheesy and
some thing a lot of missionaries say, but it was the best Christmas
yet.
Saturday: The day after Christmas is always the worst day of the year
haha. We contacted and didn't have any success but still was good! We
passed Marie rose and then ported some more :)
Sunday: Haha such a crazy cool day! So here in Ajaccio church is held
at a hotel and this Sunday we all showed up for church and the hotel
was closed and so we decided we needed to hold church at our apartment
(our apartment is set apart as a chapel which is also why we can teach
in it) and so all the members followed us to our apartment and we
realized it was kinda messy still from Christmas (kinda as in really
messy) haha so we ran up stairs and just threw everything in the hall
way. Anyways, church was in our apartment and it was so cool and
spiritual still. It's not everyday that that happens haha. So then
after that we went to give Frere Coloma the sacrament but he wasn't
there because he spent the Christmas season in France so we just
ported for about 4 hours and had some really cool things happen!

Such a great week :) thank you for the support!

Alma 22:15

Elder Wade

Alma 22:15

And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, 

the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted 

out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, 

that I may not be cast off at the last day? 

Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, 

that I may receive this great joy.

Elder Barnes hahaha

 Elder Haws I love him

Elder Boynton my trainer

President Brown

La Mission Française de Lyon! 

 Zone p day  on Monday

 Zone p day again

 Only Lyon

Conference selfie!!

Week 34 Joyeuses Fêtes!!

Hello family and friends!! Another great week here in Ajaccio :)
Guess where I am right now? NICE :) we are having a big zone p day
before we go to Lyon for the Christmas conference and we will be going
to the church and then a field and playing sports and I'm going to see
all the meknees again whom I love so dearly!! So I'm back where I
started my mission and I'm going to the Cresto's house tonight again
to say hi :) I am so excited to see them again.
Anyways, this week will be great with the conference and then
Christmas! I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas! My Ponderize
scripture for the week is Luke 2: 8-11 :)
I love my Savior and I am grateful for his role as the Messiah. I
testify he is the son of God and the Savior of the World.

Here's the week!

Monday: P day! So we basically spent the whole p day getting things
ready to go for Christmas and also cleaning our apartment. So then
later that night we went to Frere Antonis house and ate some fresh
fish that he caught in the Mediterranean earlier that day and it was
super good. I ate 2 fish heads and they actually didn't taste bad
haha. Anyways, Frere Antonis son (Kevin)  was visiting from Australia
and he isn't a member and we had an amazing rendez vous with him and
he is going to start meeting with us and then find the missionaries in
Australia when he gets back!
Tuesday: Haha honestly such a good day! So we went and passed Michael
again (we ported into him last week) and he wasn't there and so we all
decided we would just wait at his door for 5 minutes...so 5 minutes
later nothing happened and so we press the elevator and when it came
up he was in it!! Haha soooo cool :) so we just followed up on how
he's doing and then we taught him how to read the Book of Mormon and
to gain a testimony of it. It went so well! Haha so then funny
story....we knocked on this door and a middle aged lady answered it
and honestly just chewed us out super hard  and said lots of not nice
things haha so halfway through her tantrum we just started singing
"angels we have heard on high" and she actually started to get a
little teary eyed by the end of it...probably because of how bad my
voice is bless her heart ;) but voila she wasn't interested but she
felt our love for sure :)
Wednesday: So on Wednesday morning the elders from Bastia came down to
Ajaccio and we had district meeting in our apartment and then we went
on an exchange and I stayed in Ajaccio with Elder Frost and Elder
Sczuch from Bastia! It was my first exchange with elder Sczuch and he
played d1 soccer at Oregon state and he's a stud! And it was my 3rd
exchange with elder frost and so since he's the Branch president we
basically just went around visiting members and he did tithing
settlements with some of the members in Ajaccio! I love them a lot!
Thursday: So on Thursday we went to Marie roses house and got her
started on going to the temple soon (she called us later that day
saying she had asked her sister about her ancestors and had found like
100 names!!). Then we went and contacted in Ville a little and then we
went and passed Michael again and when he answered he said he couldn't
see us today because his friend had passed away and then elder johnson
shared Alma 40:11-12 and the spirit was super strong. We are teaching
him the plan of salvation sometime this week after Noel. But, Michael
gave us some figatelli which is some really good charcuterie and we
ate it later and it was super good haha. But then we went and passed a
few members later that night and shared some spiritual thoughts!
Friday: Happy Birthday Josh!! (And elder hall). So since it was elder
halls birthday elder johnson and I woke up early and made him
breakfast. We did a lot of porting and didn't see a whole lot but it
was still good. Really not a lot to write about for Friday!
Saturday: Really good day! So we wanted to thank Marie rose, Sylvia
and Noel for all they do and so we made them huge cheeseburgers and
had a huge barbecue and it was super fun. Gosh I love them honestly so
much they are incredible people. So voila that was great and then
after we went and played basketball with Kevin (Frere Antonis son) and
it was great of course. Haha I don't think I've ever said it but my
comps are both big BYU fans so we have fun when we play ;) then we
didn't have any RDVs scheduled that night so we had to be back when it
was dark (still have rules because of the terroristic attack) and so
we made a lot of calls out of the area book. Great day!! Ah I love our group here in Ajaccio. So we had our
Christmas party after church but we woke up super early and went and
picked up Frere Colonna and took him to church and then the Christmas
party! I ate fois Gras for the first time as well and it wasn't too
bad. Haha French people love it here. But Marie rose gave me a tie as
well which sparked me a lot haha I love her so much. Then we took
Frere Colonna back home, and then went home, packed, and then boarded
the boat back to France!

Joyeuses Fêtes!!

Elder Wade

 My tie from Marie Rose :) I love her!!

 Frere Colonna!! Or should I say papa Noel?

 Ajaccio! This sums up where I serve right now

 Exchange with elder frost and Sczuch

 At the group party everyone said this was my look-a-like. 

So I took a selfie haha.

Week 33 - Oh Christmas tree..

Hahahaha before and after picture of our tree. With the help of

Sylvia and Noel we transformed our apartment. Ah I love them.

Hello tout le monde another great here in Ajaccio! The work is going
great and we are seeing some great things. Here's the rundown:
Monday: P day! So we got all house keeping items taken care of and
then we went and played basketball the whole afternoon :) good times.
After that we wrote emails and then we had a rendez vous with Marie
rose and we talked about the commandments! She is doing so well FYI.
Then we had to come in because we didn't have any rendez vous fixed
the rest of the night and there is still a curfew at 6 for us
missionaries because of the terrorist attacks so we just went home and
made calls out of the area book!
Tuesday: One of the best days of my mission! So we had some problems
and difficulties and we weren't able to give Frere Colonna the
sacrament on Sunday so we made the trip to his house after studies and
gave him the sacrament. I just want to talk about that quickly... It
is one of the most spiritual experiences to give him the sacrament at
his house each week. He is unbelievable and has stayed so faithful and
is just so amazing. Since it was the first Sunday of the month, we all
rendered testimony and then he bore his testimony and I just was in
tears at the end. He is so amazing and I just have this special
feeling for him that I cannot even explain! He is a very very special
person and he has done a lot of good in his life for others. I love
him a lot. Okay so after that we were driving back and we all got this
spiritual impression to go to this apartment and to port it! And so we
went and had been porting for about 2 hours and finally this guy named
Michael answered the door and he was so amazing! We started talking to
him about Christmas and then we showed him the new film the church
just came out with and the spirit was super strong. So then we talked
about the Christ and then we got into the restoration and he was so
amazing and we gave him a Book of Mormon and set a rendez vous for
Thursday to go back and visit him! So then we went to Marie roses
house for a quick lesson and while we were there Sylvia and Noel
called us and said they had a surprise for us at our apartment! So we
drove back and they bought us a CHRISTMAS TREE!! Haha so elder halls
mom sent us a strand of lumieres and we literally just taped the
strand to the wall in the shape of a tree and Noel and Sylvia the next
day brought us Christmas tree!! I love them so much :):)
Wednesday: Wednesday we went out and ported for a bit and then we went
and had a rendez vous with a young couple who we have been teaching
lately named Fabian and Diana! They are so awesome and have a cute
little son. They are doing great but are having a hard time
understanding priesthood and so we are working on that with them for
this next week! Haha also a funny story so we were stuck in some
traffic and then Wham a car hit us going about 35 mph!. Elder hall was
driving ;) but for real it was kinda scary. It was a young girl and
she said she just didn't see us but then she opened her phone and I
saw that she had taken a selfie on snapchat while she was driving so
voilà moral of the story is don't snap chat and drive a car at the
same time haha.
Thursday: So Michael ended up not being home for the rendez vous we
scheduled so we just ported for a long long time haha. And then we
drove to Corte and met with Bastia elders and elder Hansen from good
ol Davis High came back to Ajaccio with elder hall and I!! And then
Sylvia and Noel came over and we taught them together and then
celebrated the birthday of Noel! Sylvia and Noel are so amazing and
honestly bring us food every day fyi.
Friday: So elder Hansen, elder hall and I went and taught Marie rose
the importance of centering our lives on Jesus Christ! And then we
went and had a few weird random errands we needed to run and just
contacted a little and then we met up with Bastia in Corte to finish
the exchange! I love elder Hansen so much. We had one of the best
heart to heart talks and he's just amazing! I love his family as well
they are incredible people!
Saturday: So Saturday we ported, passed by Marie rose to see how she
was doing, weekly planned, ported a little more, and then Sylvia and
Noel came over and guess what they brought?? A whole nativity scene!!
So we spent a little bit putting up the nativity scene underneath the
tree (photo coming) and then we taught them about the plan of
salvation and how incredible it is. I know it's true. It all makes
sense and I know it is! Sylvia and Noel are so incredible and this is
going to be the best Christmas ever!!! :)
Sunday: Churchhh!! So we had church and then after we discussed the
group party we will have next Sunday with The group! Then we went and
gave Frere Colonna the sacrament. I love him a lot again. Then we
ported a little bit and then Sylvia and Noel came over! Great day!!

Thank you so much for all of your love, prayers and support!

Ponderize: Mosiah 3:13--> emphasis on the end, "and rejoice with
exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them."
I love how we can have so much faith that he will come again that it's
like he already has come. I read that scripture and loved it. In My
personal study lately I've been reading the Book of Mormon and
underlining testimonies of Jesus Christ and I have loved it so much. I
know he lives!

Elder Wade

 Sylvia and I! She is doing so great she is so amazing!! :)

 Christmas Time

 Fabian and Diana!

 I love this picture sooooooo much! At Frere Colonnas house and we

were showing him the new video released by the church and he needed a

little help! Photo cred: elder hall

Week 32 le baptême de Sylvia!!!

Sylvia and I :)

Hello family and friends!! Such an amazing week. Haha so much happened
so I'll get to it!

Monday: P day!! So we studied, cleaned, got food etc. then we went and
picked up Sylvia and went and watched the sunset on the beach and we
also took our "Christmas Cards" photos haha. After we went and had a
lesson with Sylvia and Noel!
Tuesday: December!! Honestly the greatest season ever I love
Christmas. We all woke up and watched the release of the new Christmas
video on lds.org and it is so good. No lie between rendez vous,
contacting, and just at lunch and stuff we have watched the video over
50 times this week and it gets better every time. But we contacted for
a little while and then went and had a few rendez vous!
Wednesday: Wednesday was a crazy day! So we left to Corte to do an
exchange but after about 1 hour of driving they called us and said
they couldn't meet us halfway right then so we turned back around
Wednesday: Crazy day!!!! Okay haha so where to start....we woke up and
did our studies and then we were going to do an exchange with the
Bastia elders. So, we all got in the car and drove to Corte which is
about 90 minutes away and we were going to have elder Hansen also
perform the baptismal interviews of Sylvia and Noel later that night.
About an hour into the drive the Bastia elders texted us saying they
had some things come up and they couldn't do the exchange right away,
but that they would meet us in Ajaccio later that night just in time
for the baptismal interviews! So we turned around and went back to
Ajaccio. So eventually Bastia came around 7 and the interview was set
for 7:30 at our apartment! (Here's where it gets crazy) so, elder
Hansen interviews them and everything goes great and there was just a
little detail that needed to be discussed before they were to be
baptized. So right after the interview we all went into another room
to talk about what we should do and so we called President Brown and
he told us he would have to think but that the baptism would maybe get
postponed until someone could come down to Corsica (which is difficult
because it's an 8 hour boat ride and there are only us 6 missionaries
on the island). So while elder Hansen went back out into the room and
was explaining all this to Sylvia and Noel, president brown called us
back after 5 minutes and told us to use one of our iPads and he
himself would skype with Sylvia and Noel for the other interview. So,
Noel went first and they had trouble with the interview so Noel came
in the room and grabbed me and so I went out into the room with just
Noel and President brown over Skype and translated what president
brown was saying to Noel and vice versa because Noel has a little
hearing problem. So that was a cool experience. (President brown is
such a great guy!!) So then after that, Sylvia went and did her
interview just fine. Anyways, to be brief, all went well and Sylvia is
baptized and Noel we will keep working with :)
Thursday: us 6 Missionnaires on corse skyped the rest of the nice zone
on continent from our apartment for zone training! After that we went
and tried some business contacting and it was awesome! (For everyone
who has read this far and is still reading I have a gift for you... we
picked up our Christmas cards from a photo shop and we bought a
lot...so if you want a Christmas card from the elders of Ajaccio reply
back to this email with your address and I'll send you one:)) but it
was great and we taught the guy at the shot about the Book of Mormon
and had a great lesson. We will be seeing him this week.
Friday: kind of a sad day haha elder Johnson woke up suuuuper sick and
so we went out and had a few rendezvous and then we came back to out
apartment because he was looking pretty bad (still beau though) haha
so we made soooo many calls out of the area book. Voilà pas beaucoup
Saturday: so Saturday we had interviews with president over Skype! I
love president Brown he is such an amazing guy. After that we went and
met Bastia in Corte to do an exchange so that elder frost could be
there and preside at the bapteme on Sunday! We came back and got
everything in order for the baptism and then we contacted!
Sunday: SYLVIA WAS BAPTIZED!!! Such an amazing experience! She is
truly incredible. She faced so much adversary in her choice but stuck
with. I love her a lot. And Noel was such a stud about it too!! We met
at The beach Aspretto at 10 and she was baptized. After that, we went
and had church and she was confirmed a member by elder hall!! :) such
a cool experience. I love her so much!!

With such an amazing week...I chose Alma 5:26 as my Ponderize
scripture! I sure was doing a lot of what is described in that verse
this week (kinda cheesy but true)"
I love you guys! Thank you for the support :) remember how amazing the
spirit of Christ is during this season and share it with others :)

Elder Wade

Alma 5:26 

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? 

Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?

 Le baptême!! :)

 Tout le monde

 Elder hall and elder Johnson as the witnesses

Walking into the water (it was super cold FYI)

Week 31! Marriage of Sylvia and Noel! (lots of photos)

 The newlyweds :)

Hello family and friends! What a great week with so much that
happened! We are seeing some amazing things happening here in Ajaccio
and the work is picking up and looking great. I'll start with the
recap :)
Monday: Transfer day! So we picked up Elder Hall in Marseille and I
love him soooo much! He is so Christ like and I'm going to learn so
much from him this transfer :) he's from alpine Utah and was big into
theater and arts! Love him. So basically we picked him up in Marseille
and then drove to Toulon and got back on Corsica Ferries and took the
boat to Corsica over night! And it was crazzzyyyyy! There was another
big tempête and the boat was honestly just going straight up and
straight down the whole night I felt so bad for elder hall as it was
his first boat ride and the worst one yet. But super cool :)
Tuesday: So we got back to Corsica on the boat and went back and got
elder hall unpacked a little bit, made transfer goals and all that,
and then went and introduced him and to Marie rose and then after we
had a rendez vous with Sylvia and Noel :) haha also we got threatened
by a bomb so that was a little sketchy but made a good story. Don't
worry mom, all is well :) but because of the rule over the mission
still because of the terrorist attacks we have to be back home by 5:30
so we got back and made calls to people. Also, Sylvia and Noel came
over and gave us some food which was super nice. I love them
Wednesday: Okay so cool story...elder hall needed a photocopy of his
ID to be a witness at the marriage of Sylvia and Noel and so we went
to a photo copy place and the guy (Sebastian) saw we were from Utah
and he said "Go Utah Jazz" haha so then I said "Go Rudy Gobert" (he's
a player on the Jazz from France) and so he got sparked and it turns
out he has an indoor gym and coaches some 17 year olds and he invited
us to play on Friday!! I was sooooo stoked. So yeah that was the
highlight of the day :) but then Sylvia and Noel came to our apartment
and we taught them about the importance of the Book of Mormon in
conversion and they are amazing. Other than that we contacted but
there wasn't a lot of success because it was raining the whole day and
people were in a hurry haha.
Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!! Haha what a great Holliday. I am so
grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. I have learned
more than I can even begin to describe over the past 7 months and I'm
grateful for that. Haha we woke up that morning and looked in the
place where we store food (forgot the word) and all said "There won't
be a big thanksgiving meal this year" Hahahaha and so we ended up
eating chicken salad but it was so good and the best one ever ;) I was
thankful for it! Then we made cookies and went around and visited the
members and told them why we are thankful for them. It was so fun and
it was the best thanksgiving ever :)
Friday: I played basketball on an indoor court!!! First time of my
mission hahaha I was so happy honestly. So really quickly we ported a
little bit, then had a lesson with Sylvia and Noel. Then we passed
some other Amis who we are working with and trying to get more
serious. Then we played basketball :) on Wednesday elder Johnson gave
Sebastian my name and so the coach went and looked on YouTube and when
I got there they immediately told me to talk to the kids about hard
work following your dreams! it was cool because he owns the "Ajaccio
Basketball Club" and they had Boys and girls from ages 8-17 there and
there was probably close to 100 people there in total including
parents :) But after I talked to them we all went and scrimmaged and I
played against all their age groups and it was sooo fun. Honestly one
of the funnest moments of my mission. And then after we took pictures
and everything haha it was so fun. We will be going back this Friday
as well :) haha I was super happy.
Saturday: The marriage of Sylvia and Noel! :) Sylvia looked so
beautiful and Noel looked like the biggest stud! I was so happy for
them :) elder hall, elder Johnson and I were the witnesses for the
marriage so that was quite an amazing experience :) so after, they had
a party where church is and so we went for a little bit! But I want to
talk about how amazing Sylvia and Noel are....so basically there whole
family is super against the baptism. Like their parents, kids, cousins
everyone. So when we showed up we could immediately feel a dislike for
us, but Sylvia and Noel were the BEST. They bought Sparkling cider to
drink the whole night and I watched as their kids and siblings and
parents offered them wine and they just politely said no and drank the
cider :) honestly I can't even explain how happy I was for them. It
was like s huge dream come true to have a couple getting married so
that they could be baptized. I love them so much. Such an amazing
experience :)
Sunday: We woke up early and Sylvia and Noel met us at our apartment
at 6:30 and then drove 3 hours to Bastia to have church as a branch :)
it was super cool to all be united as a branch and in total we had 22
people! :) then we all ate afterwards. Also it was cool to see elder
Hansen from Davis get called as the 2nd counselor :) he is such a
stud. Then we drove back to Ajaccio and dropped Sylvia snd Noel off.
They were with us for 11 hours haha it was so fun. Sylvia sat up front
and we had a great conversation the whole trip. She's so incredible!
Then we went and visited Frere Colonna and gave him the sacrament. I
can't tell you how amazing he is...each Sunday he is dressed up and
has the bread and water with a white cloth already prepared. And he is
blind but he still does it. He bore his testimony to us last night and
I found myself with just tears in my eyes as he talked about being 30
years old and meeting the missionaries and talking about how he knew
it was true. The sincerity he has is incredible. I love him so much so
much!

Such a great week and it will be another amazing week to come! The
baptism of Sylvia and Noel is happening this Sunday and Noel has asked
elder Johnson to baptize him and Sylvia has asked me to baptize her.
It is going to be an amazing day. I am so excited and I want to thank
everyone for the love and support.

Elder Wade

D & C 97: 10-16 (emphasis on verse 13 because I am so grateful for
temples and it was Thanksgiving week so voilà)

D&C 97:10-16

10 Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that a houseshould be built unto me in the land of Zion, like unto the pattern which I have given you.

11 Yea, let it be built speedily, by the tithing of my people.

12 Behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a housebuilt unto me for the salvation of Zion—
13 For a place of thanksgiving for all saints, and for a place of instruction for all those who are called to the work of the ministry in all their several callings and offices;
14 That they may be perfected in the understanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth, the keys of which kingdom have been conferred upon you.
15 And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thingto come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it; 
16 Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.

 Signing the paper as a witness of the wedding! :)

Us sitting around during the ceremony

Her putting the ring on him :) 

 The reception

Right after the marriage. Us 4 witnesses.

 Picture with the U-16 Ajaccio basketball team!

 Talking strategy ;)

 Noel partied wayyyy to hard Saturday night during his wedding

because this was Sunday morning when we picked him up for church

Hahahaha

Thanksgiving meal!!! Aka homemade chicken salad haha