Happy New Year, January 3, 2011

Dear Fam:

What another interesting week . . .

Church starts for this ward at 11, which works perfect because it’s right after studies.  We go up to the church and talk with members.  Right now there are 4 wards in the building, but normally there is only 3.  The 4^th ward is here because something happened with their roof, either there is no more roof, or a beam cracked so there is almost no roof, but something to that extent.  Glad no one got hurt. 

Eddie comes to church just about every week, he didn’t come last week because he had the 24 hour flu, fun stuff.  He came this week, but the Deah kids forgot what time church started so we’ll try again with them next week.  They are still scheduled for baptism on Jan. 15, but it will change if they don’t come to church next Sunday.

There were 2 baptisms this week.  One was Yusbeth, a Hispanic girl that the south side elders found.  Half of the service was in Spanish – that was so nice to hear and feel the spirit.  We had about all of our investigators at the baptism – Cindy, Samuel, the Deah kids.  They all liked it and asked when they could be baptized.  The only problem with that is the Deah kids don’t really like to come to church until they get here.  Cindy wants to be baptized, but wants to go to her church . . .

The other baptism was a child of record.  We had April and Eddie go there because it was more of a family thing and there were more kids there for Morgan and Jazmine.  It worked out well.  April and Eddie will be getting married on January 15 at 2:00 pm.  I am glad that is happening.  Eddie is starting to figure out prayer and Christ, but still not enough to where he can be baptized.  On Thursday when we went over, he said that they have been arguing a lot, but that they have started saying prayers together to help them calm down.  It’s nice to know that there is some progress even though it is slow.

That’s weird it’s so cold in Tucson and in Eagar.  It’s normally not that bad but I guess global warming has its own thing in mind.  Knocking on doors when its 20 below (only happened 2 times so far) definitely isn’t fun.

You are right, there is not a sporting goods store in Brooklyn Park.  I have come to find out that there are these little hand warm things, but they are actually toe warmers that I can put on my sock and stay warm.  Thank you Christine for those!

Yup, transfers are this week!  Elder Katoa is going to Manomine, Wisconsin and I am staying.  I get Elder Miller.  He and I came out together and were comps for a little bit.  I only have one problem with that . . . he is not a poly!  I have kinda been wondering who is going to stand in front of me when someone throws a bucket or brick at us . . . no worries  =)  It was interesting when President called this morning.  First, he talked to Elder Katoa and then he said, “Well Elder, we are going to have you move out of Shingle Creek too, and you’re going to be  . . . (like for a minuet or two there was a pause), wait, that’s not right, Elder Baker you stay right there.”  He hung up and then called a few minutes later and said what the low down was – interesting how the Lord and the spirit works.

You are right on this being the only full year I will serve.  Missionaries come up with the weirdest lingo – we call it the black year – it’s supposedly the fastest year, so we’ll find out about that!

Wednesday we went over to the Deah kids place and talked about baptism.  Brindy is really excited, it’s Mark that seems to be a little rough.  He really wants to know the truth.  He is like a young Joseph Smith – really searching for the right answers and he doesn’t want to make a wrong move.  We talked for maybe 45 minutes on the blessings that come from baptism.  The only bad thing that he came up with is that he will be more accountable, and that makes him really nervous.

Friday was good, we pretty much just helped members out with New Years stuff – setting speakers up, connecting this and that.  New Year’s day was fun.  Tons of drunks.  The nice thing is that people were a lot nicer, till later in the day when it got colder.

Sunday was great.  At Yusbeth’s baptism there were a ton of people.  Maybe 30 people were stuck in a little tiny nursery room.  It was such a spiritual moment, even though it was in Spanish.  I would say that is the first time in this ward that testimonies have been . . . well . . . all testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His teachings and blessings.

A funny thing about the baptism is that the font wasn’t filling up fast enough so we had to take a trash can, of course we washed and cleaned it, we filled it up and used that to fill the font.  We had some good laughs about that!

Ooo on Saturday night I guess bikes don’t like cold weather and ice.  My bike is jacked up as well as Elder Katoa’s and we didn’t have a bike on Sunday, so it was lots of walking and that’s also why we are emailing early because with the ride situation and Elder Katoa leaving there is a lot to do.  So the Paynters are letting us email using their computer.

Well that seems like this week in a nut shell

Love,

Elder Baker

PS  one thing that I forgot to say was that Eagan had a baptism about a transfer ago.  His name is James, a younger black guy.  Guess who talked to him and got his info?  Yup, that was me.  He didn’t want to talk to a white boy, so he waited till Elder Kinikini talked to him.  I didn’t teach him, but I was able to get his information.  I thought that was neat, so far “seed planting” is working . . .