February 21, 2011

February 21, 2011

Dear fam

Thank you for the family tree.  There is a few Elder Lewis’s here in the mission. The one that just came out we have no relation to at least not that elder Waller and I am aware of. At transfers Elder Waller and I had a nice conversation about our family tree and about family reunions and all this and that. it’s really neat.

Did dad play the game or did he just get it so the girls could play.  ooo silly pops!

Yes I am at the same tiny little apartment. But its so nice being able to have a stove and a real fridge and a real freezer. Not a little nothing that barely keeps the food and what not cold.  I asked Elder Orton about the family member in Eagar. He said it very well could have been one of his uncles. My comp Elder Orton has been out for a year February 24th. he is from Tooele Utah, bmx biker, rugby player, tennis, football, rally car racer, ummm and a drawer (artist?). really chill and kinda whatever kinda guy. Last week Pres., after transfer calls and he told me how much he trusts me and so he was going to put me to work a little more.

This new pilot program is a 12 week thing that president Monson wants to start doing with other missions. You know how preach my gospel was a pilot for a little bit and they where trying to see how it was all going to work and how they could get missionaries to be a PMG missionary. this is kinda an upgrade from PMG. Raising the bar for missionary work. It’s to get missionaries ready to train right after their 12 weeks (2 transfers) instead of the 6 months like me. Every week they focus on something new, tracting, teaching rc, la, am, street finding, leadership etc. So it’s really rough but it will be super good and make the new missionaries way better trained and know how to work more effectively.

Yes it’s been really good to see the members here in the ward again. A few people remember me or at least remember that I have been there before. I don’t blame them because I can barely remember them. So it works out just fine. Daisy Sandkamp kinda weird rushed up and gave me a hug and than backed off and said opps sorry missionary but I was so exited to see you again. she is a funny polly lady.

One of my MTC teachers said something like that the days feel like weeks but the weeks feel like days.

The area of Eagan doing all right, we have one date set and one investigator that Elder Kini and I found Andy. President said that was another reason why I am going back is to get him baptized. So hopefully I will be able to do as the Lord wants and get him in to the sacred waters of baptism.

In one of my studies, I was studying prayer. How to pray and how to get members, investigators to not be afraid of prayer and how to get them to pray correctly. I learned something that was very interesting.  We should talk and do things as the lord would have us do right? like tract where we need to be tracting, teaching what we need to be teaching. well that goes for prayers to. I thought that was so bezar how we are suppose to prayer for things that Heavenly Father would have us prayer for. That blew my mind and kinda was weird for a second trying to figure how that all works.

Lets see, we were listing to a talk on my iPod this week as we (elder Orton and I) where driving. It was talking about a landscaper and how he keeps all of his trees nicely formed and how they should look and makes them all beautiful. One day as the man was working a bush said "please let me grow more. I want to be like the trees and make lots of shade for the other animals and for you so you can rest and get a break from the sun." The landscaper said, “That is not what you are though.” “You are not a tree you are a bush. you do create shade for the small animals for when they need rest and shelter. I will keep you looking nice and trimmed like a bush as you should be."  It talks about how we are the bush and the lord is the landscaper and how he trims us back on when we need to be and lets us grow on what we need to grow. I was trying to figure out what I needed to grow on and what I needed to be cut back on. But then I gave up on that and just figured the Lord would keep me where he wanted me as long as I did His will.

A few days ago we picked Natalie Slauther back up. For some reason the missionaries stopped going by and so we went back and started teaching her again. She really could have a lot of potential.

Yesterday it snowed like crazy. We were grounded (no driving) and we couldn’t really go any where because previous missionaries to me have already tracted out all the near by streets.  We stood by the "hill of death" to push cars up and also to help cars get into the apartment complex. The roads were unplowed so in the 20 inches of snow we received yesterday we were able to push a lot of cars. My comp and I are so sore from slipping and pushing. Thank goodness the pain didn’t and doesn’t stop us :) we took a picture of us just chilling on the hill, waiting for another car. lol We never had to wait longer than 5 minuets to help another car and that would take at least 5 minutes to push up the hill.

Let’s see and today being presidents day, libraries are closed and so we are emailing at the McKinney home. They are a really nice family. she is polly and he is African American. This was the only time that would work for them so that’s why I am emailing earlier.

Since I have been back here in Eagan I have ripped two of my suit pants... and the nearest Men’s Warehouse is like 2 hours away. I thought that those stores where all over. guess I was wrong!

Yesterday or maybe it was a few days a go I was really craving some rice and in the appt we hardy had any food so that’s why I bought the rice. I didn’t have enough on my msf card so ill be pulling some out next month for that and than sending it home so I don’t use my personal funds. I am really trying to be better at that. So far it’s been going good. I just don’t want to fall back into that habit. 

ooo and on the gps thing. Elder Orton knows, or at least says he knows, a lot about gps's (he has one) today we are going to go looking around for the cheapest one. I probably won’t be getting one till later. but ill be looking for a good price. I kinda got thinking that it may be cheaper to get one used at Amazon or some thing like that. I’ll let you know.

its time to go shovel some more snow!

love elder baker

Transfers - going back to Eagan!

February 14, 2011

fam!                                                                                                                                                                Transfers So it’s all kinda weird. There's a new program that our mission is piloting because President Howell is the man. We are one out of 3 in the world! it’s a 12 week program for the greenies that come out on Wednesday or maybe they come on Thursday. Any way Elder Miller will be training here in Shingle Creek north however it may not be Shingle Creek any more because Elm Creek and Maple Grove and us are making 4 wards. Life here is going to be a little crazy for Elder Miller and Hess. ooo and they are going to be observed for a day or so by people from Salt Lake- just to add to their stresses ;)    I am leaving sad but true but I am going back to my birthplace of Eagan Rosemount area. my comp is Elder Orton. not sure on the spelling. There are a couple of date sets that elder Kinikini and I found so that will be cool to see them as they have changed.

There has been a little bug like that going around up here to. President got it and he was out for about a week and he is up and kicking again. 

umm this week. It’s been kinda short but kinda really crazy. Regina went missing for a few days; we had an appointment with her on Thursday. No show, talked to her family no one knew where she was, but she called us Saturday night bawling and saying she wanted to meet. That was the night that we showed Joseph Smith prophet of the restoration. So she came and it turned out well.  The reason she was crying was she wants to be baptized and she and Samson broke up after a few years of engagement.  I’ll be in Eagan so I will be able to come to that. (not sure what he means on that)

ooo ok and we will end on a funny... not so funny note. On Saturday it was like 30 degrees. so it was a beautiful day!  I was still bundled up but I didn’t have to cover my fat face up haha. Any way so normally we lock up to a stop sign or some sort of sign because they are easier and you don’t have to climb a huge mound to get to them. and well that’s where the problem started. I start climbing up this mound because it’s the closest thing and I set my bike down. Elder Miller starts to hand me his and I start slipping. I didn’t think anything of it because the snow was compacting a  little bit yeah not so. I fall in to this huge pit!! and I couldn’t get out! well I could it was just going to take a little bit of effort. we got out and all was well. I started like to move my pants around because I kinda had a wedgie. come to find out yeah not a wedgie it was a  stupid stick that somehow got stuck in my pants and was sticking me in my back side. goood times.

Also Eddie got the priesthood this week and is really starting to spiritually progress.  We got 5 new investigators this week. and umm I am off to Eagan!  ooo next week I may be getting a GPS maybe I’ll wait a week or so to see if I can figure it out.

well I love you

elder baker

February 9, 2011

                                                                                                        
Dear someone in a warmer climate than me!!! ahaha
dear fam
Yes Eddie was able to be baptized. that was such an awesome experience! Brother Doolittle said he told you about it so I am not sure how much he told you so here we go. Eddie got there an hour early.  Elder M and I are still confused as to why he came so early. but he did and we were able to have a really nice chat with him and prepare him for the baptism a little more. During the service before and after jazmine and morgan (Lucero kids) finally behaved themselves and that was so nice. When we went in the water Eddie had this huge smile on his face and said he was ready. Being able to baptize him was such a blessing. I think being able to pull him back up is a blessing too!! (he's kind of a BIG guy!)  hahaha. During fast and testimony meeting the few people that were there, talked about how strong the spirit was. It made me happy that it wasn’t just me feeling that!
No mark was not able to be baptized. He decided that he needed to wait for a while till he is ready. He says he will be ready and prepared when he is 21... stupid Satan! We have felt like we need to talk to him a lot about it so we did and he still wants to wait.... more baby steps ugggggg some times people . . . when you know is true, you need to do it!  You want to get those blessing but you don’t want to get baptized, oooo what a pain!
Good job Alex!! (Alex Bringhurst is going to the state wrestling tournament) hopefully he can make some upsets! on the 16th man if it’s the same as last year they do 15 and then put the next best at 16. I don’t think I will be able to explain it very well so I won’t ; ) and it may be different...
Hahah Elder Miller says "ooo no this could be bad" to you for emailing his mother, but he is glad that you are willing to help her out a little bit, as much as you can.
geez 5 degrees there that's way chilly for Tucson. Maybe that’s why it’s so cold here now. but gezz that’s crazy people there don’t know how to dress for 5. man that’s crazy.  (well, we probably know how, we just don't have the right clothes . . . it just never gets that cold here!)
Well time to quickly wrap the week up. eddies baptism.. AWESOME! mark ummm;  working with Cindy had a break down at church and was no fun to try and talk to someone who just wants to cry. We aren't sure what’s going on with her because she doesn’t really want to talk about it... but onward christan soldiers.

We talked to an rlds person. that was sure interesting and difficult to not bash on them.
We saw President Paynter once this week. We had a nice chat, his sister is Jeannine Scarber and her husband is Luis. (actually the Stake directory says his name is Mark . . . anyone out there know them?  They live in AV Ward)
The other day I was able to spit into my glove and have it be frozen and then throw it at elder miller. that was a funny experience. (Seriously?)
Do we know anyone in a forest park ward in Utah? I got a package from them but it was addressed to a Chet Baker. (anyone out there claim this? blessings to you if you do!)   The mission home said it was for me but I didn’t know who it was from. Also could you thank Dorie for me? time is up and I haven’t been able to thank her. (Families helping families surely helped Elder Baker!)
We also had a break into the home this last week. Only a few little things where stolen nothing to big.
The temple today was awesome! It was nice and a good way to refocus on missionary work and a consecrated life. 

Thank you for the box. Being able to get that wrestling feeling was a refresher.

There was no oil in it.. do you think you could try again? (dang it, can't remember anything these days!)

And the family tree with Elder Lewis and Waller? (Need to put on my thinking cap - I know they are Aunt Afton's great grandsons . . . let's see, how does this genealogy thing work?)
geezz so much to talk about and no time!!!!!!!!!! Ugggggggggg                               love you bye

new p-day

Monday, February 7, 2011
Hello!
My name is Jason Doolittle. I am the ward mission leader for the Shingle Creek ward in Minneapolis, MN.
Your sons, Elders Baker and Miller, asked me to e-mail you to let you know that their p-day has been changed to Wednesday of this week. They will e-mail you then.
So you know, they are both exemplary missionaries and I am honored to have had the chance to serve with them.
Kind regards,
Jason Doolittle

How nice was that?  Thanks Bro. Doolittle!

January 31, 2011

dear family!

Thank you dad for your inspiration.  I will continue to do my best to go onward and upward!

Eddie, this last two weeks,  is really progressing.  We went over there about every day this last week and he decided to take out his ear rings.  (I think I am going to ask him for them just as a remembering thing of the gospel).  He has his interview for baptism this up coming Saturday the 5th.  The ceremony will start at 6 o’clock.  Hopefully Mark will be able to be baptized than as well but that’s not up to us; we just roll with the punches. Mark is doing fine, we went over to his place last night to drop off some forms that need to be filled out.  He was pretty sick but he was so happy that we came by and gave him that so he can be baptized.  Shara and TJ are ummm . . . I don’t know . . . we talk a lot with them but they seem to cancel every appointment. Elder Miller feels really good about them so we’ll keep on doing our thing.  We also picked up two other investigators Fred and Mike. I don’t know much about either one. They both are super interested and both are a little … crazy?  Who knows what the spirit can do as we work with them.

It’s been a good week. As we have been going over to eddies place so much, its been nice to see the seed bloom in to a pretty flower. Soooo nice not to just plant a bunch and not see the fruits.

It’s snowing again here. We have like 5 inches now and we are supposed to get about 5 more... uggg snow.  It is good for missionary work but that’s about it.

This week we also had exchanges. it was nice to go down in the south area and see how different it is there. Way more ghetto and much more difficult to find commitable people. The funny thing about it was we were able to find future investigators for the Hmong, Elm Creek, and North Shingle Creek. I felt bad we didn’t find one for their area, but that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. I have definitely learned this week that life is not fair and probably never will be.

Yesterday at church we had a 5th Sunday thing with the bishopric. It was on the Lord’s store house. I had no clue what that was.  There where a lot of people that didn’t know. Super glad I wasn’t the only dork raising their hand who didn’t know. Anyway bishop did a really nice job at teaching us about it. I learned that the Lord moves us around, gets us jobs in places where we need to be in order to further push the work forward.  People have traits that only they have and some one needs to hear it from that person to become converted or to stay strong in their faith.  He also talked about seeing a need and filling it, not just standing around and waiting for some one else to do it. See. . . Act . . . Do

The library has changed their policy on who can use the computers and who can’t. Elder Miller is not able to email his family today but will be able to next week. Do you think you could send them some thing saying that he is ok? Their email address is brad@impressivehomesutah.com and if that doesn’t work try impressivehomes@comcast.net

well I gota go..

love elder baker