Friday, January 1, 2010

Pics from the MTC

Here are some pics Jake mailed to us. Sorry if they aren't as clear as they could be...the scanner wasn't working too well:)




































Wednesday, December 30th Email

Hey How is everything going back in Arizona? Gosh I miss home so muchespecially now since Sam is coming home and Christmas is in two days! thisweek has been really tough on me! It truly is humbling when you cryyourself to sleep as a 19 year old kid! cause I have been doing that a lotthis week! I miss you all so much and you all mean the world to me! Soanyway how is everyone doing?! Kiea and Cory whats up! thanks for yourletters and Dear Elders I love them and it sounds like your both doingamazing! I think about you often and I thank you for everything you haveever done for me! Dano and Linds how are you two doing? How is work andlife going? Dano you have to keep me updated on sports and what not! I amdying without knowing how college ball is ending and what not! Please givemy sweetheart navy a kiss from me I miss her so much! Cami I wrote youanother letter so I hope you get it this week! I love you thanks for writingme every week I look forward to them! Kenna and Kai stay out of trouble Ilove you both! I read uncle johns letter and I loved it I also got therepackage and tell them thanks so much for the food and stuff and the fishinggame ha-ha I love it! All of my district started busting up laughing whenthe read wills letter about the yettis ha-ha they were dying and I waslaughing so hard ha-ha tell him thanks and tell him that there are a ton ofyettis who come out at night here ha!. Grandma I wrote you a letter todayso you will get it soon! I hope you have an amazing Christmas and know thatI will be thinking about you! I love you grandmas your amazing and my bestfriend! I hope all is well! write soon! MOM how are you! I looove gettingyour letters you make me laugh and smile with each and everyone one! Ha Ibet your freaking out right now with Sam getting in tomorrow ha-ha! As Isaid before take a deep breath and know he doesn't care what the house lookslike all he cares about is being with the family! But how was your week!?Write me soon and send me pics of kenna and kai as well I miss seeing them!Dad how are you? I am glad tithing settlement is over for you I bet thatwas so stressful! I think about you everyday! I sit in class sometimes andjust sit back and say to myself I wonder what my family is doing! Ha dad Idie in class I have to get up like every 10 min to stand up ha-ha but I amworking on it and its getting better! tell uncle john and aunt Tracy andthe little kids and Katie that I said hi and I love hearing from them! Itsgood that your kind of get a break for a little bit during the holidayseason! and I am glad your feeling better I love you so much thank you forbeing the best example for me! Ok so this week has been nuts! One of mybest friends here in the MTC Elder Unga his brother is the running back forBYU and he also Plays for BYU he is a lineman ha-ha he weighs 350 Pounds andhe bench presses 605! Ha yea he is a big boy he is going on his mission toHawaii and he wants me to come live with him after the mission here inProvo! He was all Shreeve I will get you tickets to every football game youwant and I am having my brother sign his gloves and wristbands for you! heis a stud and I love him to death me and him are so close! He reminds me ofwhat Uncle Johns companion would be like! K anyway Last night Elder NeilA. Anderson of the quorum of the twelve came and spoke at a fireside andgave a wonderful message about missionary work! truly the spirit was sostrong my feelings and emotions were on edge! After the fireside me elderunga were walking back to the room and Neil A. Anderson came up to me andelder unga cause it was snowing and we were standing in the snow he came upto me first and shook my hand and I swear I have never felt the spirit sostrongly in my entire life! He truly is called of god and one of hisprecious instruments! It was so amazing to meet an apostle of the lord andto feel of his love and charity for the missionaries was so real! It is anexperience I will never forget! I have been blessed beyond measure with mycircumstances in life and its taken me 19 years to realize the true meaningof Christmas and also about serving others! I know this Christmas will beone of the hardest ever cause ill be thinking about home but I know if Ilose myself in serving others and truly focus on the true meaning ofChristmas that I wont be homesick! I know I will forever remember these twoChristmases on my mission! Well Last night a few of my Tongan buddies wereleaving so we went to there room to sing to them and they all did the hakafor me and we all got pics together so you will all be able to see myPolynesian brothers! ha-ha I love all of them! Well the language is comingalong great! me and my comp gave the whole first discussion this week inDanish to an investigator and it went so well! the spirit was guiding us onwhat we needed to say and it was a great experience for the both of us! Ialso now have the Joseph smith first vision memorized in Danish! That tookme a while but its been a blessing and a humbling one trying to learn it!This language is truly beautiful and I cannot wait to be able to speak withthe people of Denmark in their native tongue! The mission truly does giveus the gift of tongues and the spirit is so tangible here I am in love withthe work and the people I get to associate with! I never knew you couldlove someone this fast but I love all my brothers here that I have met morethan I can explain! This is truly a blessing and I am so grateful for thisgospel and the way it has influenced my life! I wish you all a MERRYCHRISTMAS and I will be thinking and praying for all of you! Give Sam ahuge hug and a kiss from his little bro! By the way dad have same come onthat Tuesday and ill tell him about the temple and what not so we can getmore time then! I love you all so much and mom not a day goes by that Idon't kiss you goodnight! I think about you all the time and I love you all!the church is true and the work is so real and sweet! This gospel is such ablessing and I am so grateful I get to share it with others! I hope to hearfrom you all soon! I love you and miss you terribly but two years is nobiggie!! hugs and kisses from me!
Love elder Shreeve Jakey!!

Elder Shreeve's Christmas

We received a letter from Jake on Monday about his Christmas. He said he was homesick, as expected, but was able to hear Elder Perry speak. At lunchtime, he and his friend, Elder Mathews, noticed Elder Perry and his wife sitting down eating lunch. Jake, being the social bug that he is, decided to go up and introduce himself. He and Elder Mathews ended up eating lunch with Elder and Sister Perry. Such an amazing, once in a lifetime Christmas experience. We love our Jake and are so proud of him and his decision to serve. We were so happy to hear that he had a good experience on Christmas day and wasn't as homesick as he could've been. Much love to everyone who shares our love and support for our missionary.