April 25, 2011

Dear fam

Sounds like a fun weekend that you had with every one visiting, playing and such!

As a district we are going to the temple next week hopefully. ill try and keep you posted. so if I don’t write on Monday don’t freak out. but if you don’t get one bay Friday you can go ahead and freak out haha. I will try and meet with him, the temple pres. but no promises.

pshhh yeah day one was rough - mother crying and crying and calling every 2 seconds it was like i was dying:) i love you any way mom. (He’s making reference to Sabrina Welch and that her mom is going to be crying . . . little stinker!)

That is really sad about Mr. Brown.  I can remember playing football out on gemstone with Colby and the other kids down the street i can’t remember their names.  Also right after we fixed up Ana with a  new muffler how quiet she ran. Mr Brown didn’t really like that because he didn’t have an alarm clock any more to wake him up;) i think he was just razing us but it was funny.  He sure was always a fun and nice neighbor and had a smile on his face :) great man

Investigators are a pain to meet with! it’s been rough trying to schedule stuff and than have them cancel or what not. but the members are starting to step up their missionary work. we had three dinners where there was a nonmember there. nothing came of it but its planting those precious seeds. some times it’s a pain but once that seed takes root ooooo how amazing that is :) it all works out. we got a call from one of the investigators Matt, the catholic that doesn’t want to change religions, well he is starting to change. he got done with his "home work" and wants more! we haven’t been able to meet with his wife. but once one joins the fold the other will see the light and the change and for lack of a better phrase its game over!

There where a few sick people this week. we gave 3 blessings this week 2 two members one less active one active and than one to Shane. Shane looked so miserable he texted us and asked us to pray for him. we said we could do one better if we came over we could give him a blessing he didn’t know what that was at the moment but after we talked about what it is and how its done he said i have the faith give me this blessing! we did and now he is back on his feet and so busy it difficult to meet with him! uggg how this works some times.

We didn’t have any investigators to work but a military family( Fairchild’s) their oldest daughter Olivia(i think) brought a friend to church. in Sunday school they read form the book of Mormon and Olivia’s friend already had the bom app on her ipad. good ol' seed planting. that one will turn in to a plant soon hopefully!

Some thing interesting I have eaten this week is... for the two weeks for except for the 4 dinners with members we have had lasagna for breakfast... lunch... and dinner.... I tried eating some of it this morning for breakfast and well my tum tum is still not happy I think we are going to throw the rest way. the young women had some sort of get together where they had it and well the girls didn’t eat hardly any of it and so we got the 3 huge pans full of it.. so sick of that stuff and watch tomorrow we will have it for dinner! Hahaha  (oh, man, that me laugh!)

last p-day we played dodge ball as a district all day so no naps or letters written.  all of us where so sore for about 3 or 4 days incredible from something so simple to get sore from that . . . goodness i must be a missionary!

P-day today we got free tickets to the Minnesota History Museum and so we are going to that with Elder Waller and Eggerston. I have my camera this time so next pday I will hopefully be sending some pictures with my email.

Wednesday we got snow. I am not sure where you’re getting this whole warming up thing from. snow at the end of April.. yeah buddy Minnesota!

If you could, can you send out $20. my comp can’t budget worth a darn and with laundry being expensive. If you could I would appreciate it. Thanks for being my mother

Friday Saturday and Sunday we where asked to step up our game on contacting  this week. i don’t know why we do that on holidays like Easter and Christmas he don’t really meet to many people that want to talk because they are with family or partying or something but we did. that was the most I have been told I am going to hell in my life. it’s been rough but after the trial comes the blessing. this week we will get a blessing, it may not be a new investigator it may just be a week of people that are nicer and willing to talk.

Sunday was awesome! church was jam packed with the spirit! we had 3 musical numbers one of them the priesthood body sang This is the Christ (missionaries sing that at every zone conference) i love that song very much.  it makes the atonement more personal “how many drops of blood where spilt for me" the atonement was for every one. Christ did it one by one because he loves us each individually. that’s a lot of love to give to every one, even those who don’t want to receive it. such a blessing to have that knowledge that He wants me in heaven with Him. that’s why He did that for me :)

well till next week

lover elder baker

April 18, 2011

Dear fam

it looks like the camp was a lot of fun. but where are the Olympics?! those where good times for sure.

it sounds like Mitch sure has a lot to figure out if he is going to be wrestling it looks like he has to lose a little bit of weight to! speaking of losing weight I am down to a solid 180 finally.

this last week was a different week lots of downers but defiantly a lot of good as well. yes we go tracting. we are supposed to have 2 hours every day set aside for just tracting and talking to people. since our teaching pool is kinda still on the small side we do a lot of finding. on Wednesday we tracted all day. 8 hours it was a long day of getting doors slammed in our faces. we do our best every night to plan. and to say a special little prayer to figure out where we need to be and when we need to be there. if we chose by our selves with no spirit or direction it’s worthless. but when we pray and ask Heavenly Father where we need to go (he knows who is ready) than it makes it much more worth it and we are much more effective as well.

on Thursday we had a specialized training. its where about half of a zone gets together to be trained and also to be interviewed. it’s a much better way of doing interviews and training I think because it’s more personal. the training was on finding. as a mission we have a goal to double baptisms for June. the only way to do that is to start yesterday. a lot of the time, especially when we tract for a long time, we lose faith and I am totally guilty of that one. after you hear so many people say no, go away, its difficult to have faith. if we have faith and it’s what the lord wants, it will happen. we need to do our part that way it happens. faith with out works is dead but also works with out faith is dead. we don’t have faith there isn’t much left of any thing. also don’t be so pushed around when people say no. being persistent and bold are what we as missionaries are to be. not taking no for an answer from any one when we commit them to change and live a better life. after all was said and done with the training I realized I have a lot to change. also in the interview pres asked me why I was being obedient. I told him because you asked me to. he proceeded to tell me that I need to be obedient because I want to be not because some one is asking me to. once I started on a new slate we saw a few miracles happen. that night we had a jt. and we where able to pick up matt, he has had a rough life. I can’t remember if I have said much about him if I have sorry but you get it again. better to be reminded than not to know at all. he had a divorce about 5 years ago and it was the best thing for him. the best change in his life. about a year latter he was married again and was trying to turn to God with his catholic faith (it didn’t get him to far) he had a miscarriage (baby died in the womb) and that really didn't help him at all. as he was in the lowest time in his life.  we left a pamphlet of the plan of salvation. he loved it so much being able to be with his family after this life. when we taught him the second time, we took a convert who used to be a hard core catholic. matt told us over and over that he has a lot to do and to change and that he is learning a lot. but will never change his catholic ways. little does he know  ; )

Saturday night we get a text from a recent convert Tina Mathison (her son Elijah but his nick name is nemohe is 6) told her that he wanted to find a church. she checked out mormon.org and look where she is!  she told us that her son Dylan was home. no one in the church has ever met Dylan, let alone even knew she had a son besides us and the ward missionaries. so told us to hurry and come over hahaha she didn’t have to twist our arm to much. we went over and he is a solid young guy 16 years old with no sense of direction. he is sucked  in to the way of the world. he doesn’t know who God is. after meeting with him he had a very sincere prayer trying to figure out if God is really there. sadly he didn't recognize his answer and or didn’t have the faith to get one.. he still came to church and loved it. the young men are a little more on the clicky side but we and the young men’s leaders twisted their ears a little and Dylan had a good time. hopefully he is brought into the click and not pushed away.

has the McKinney family emailed you? we will be skyping at their house on mother’s day in about 3 weeks. sooo if they haven’t let me know that way we can get it figured out before than so we don’t have to use the old school telephone way.

I was going to ask a question but it kinda off went away and I can’t remember..

love

elder baker

April 11, 2011

Dear fam.

Sounds like there sure has been a lot going on everywhere.  Lots of excitement and new experiences and learning going on for sure.  I sent Jenni a funny shirt I got form the science museum of Minnesota.  I thought it was a funny science shirt and may be good if she teaches a science thing at school.  (Well, what did it say?)

That’s way cool about Mitch getting accepted in to ASU.  If he wrestled there that would be even better, but with his fatness he probably won't huh...he needs to get married! hahaha I am sure he is sick of hearing that.  One of the commitments Pres. Howell leaves with the missionaries is to get married/engaged in one year!  Fast for sure. I still haven’t figured that out, guess I will when I get home.

The science museum was awesome! I felt like such a little nerd again being able to learn and relearn and now forget every thing.  It was fun for sure.  Elder Waller (his mom is a Wiltbank) took some pictures and he should be sending those to me some time. (we are allowed to email each other because we are related.)  He isn’t in my district or even zone.  We had to get permission to go.  It made it a lot easier because we handed off Ray Harstead that night.

 P-days are normally take a nap, eat a little snack, go email, go shop, take a nap, go play some basket ball or soccer with the district or have bbq or just chill, take a another nap, get home around 5, write as many letters as possible, get ready and out the door.

Investigators. Well, Hilda we didn’t meet with... Shane we didn’t meet with... but hey we picked another investigator up his name is Chris.  He is Mexican and had a rough, really rough life with drugs.  Kind of the same as Shane, but he wasn’t in jail as much.  Chris is about early 20's I think.  He wants to get closer to God and live a better life.  We have the messages that do both of those things so it works perfect!

Elder Peterson and I are doing well. he has just has such a different personality it’s difficult to stay patient some times.  For comp study we read "Create Success" by... I can’t member … but it’s a good talk.  When I was being trained they jammed that into our brains and we were able to chat and talk and digest it.  It kind of made me think of things I "can’t do" - like remember qgc/itl; where some one lives; where I left this, who is that; and changing them into things I can do. I am trying to change my mind sets about things as well. In my studies today (I am reading the New Testament and studying commandments) and in Matthew 6, I think it talks about treasures and where our treasure is so will our heart be.  Treasure right now is finding somebody to teach and keeping the ward excited for missionary work.

Well useless information. I haven’t shopped for any food for the last 2 weeks.  We have so many stinking left over’s from members.  That’s all we are eating and even than we can’t keep up.  Elder Peterson is so skinny and has never gained any weight. lol one of his goals is to gain a little bit before he goes home.  Maybe in those 3 months he will be able to gain a little bit, and I will lose a little bit.

On Thursday I had a man moment or a really weird moment. I pulled lint out of my belly button. First time that has ever happened.  (good grief, really?)

ooo we are also teaching a less active.  She was baptized about 2 years ago and has no testimony of the Book of Mormon or the restored gospel.  Some times I get so frustrated with missionaries who are just about looking good, and not thinking about their investigators salvation and the big picture. She was able to point out the Holy Ghost and recognize that.  Step by step we can get her on the right track.

well till next week

love

elder baker

The life of a missionary . . .

Fatties . . . for sure !  Baker and Orton

 . . . makes a garbage can  - that's Elder Baker!

Baptism of Mark Deah - Baker and Katoa

District cook out . . . before Elder Morty goes home~

District cookout in the snow . . . (it's just not right )

April 4, 2011

 Dear fam

Conference was amazing.  There where a few greenie missionaries at the building where we were watching at and they asked,  “does being a missionary make these better or was it just that much more touching".  My reply was "yes the mission makes it a lot better; maybe because we are more in tune with the spirit than our past lives and also we are missionaries as well. Its like President Howell talking to us."   It was good to know that I have grown a little bit and now able to help other missionaries a little bit instead of being the one that always needs advice. One other thing that I kind of noticed is that the speakers seemed more down to earth, more like us and not like these big giants.

I have not been able to meet with President Hugh.  As a district we are planning on going to the temple together.  When we go I will meet up with him and ask him a few questions I have and also be able to chat with him about how crazy the Haws kids where in high school ; )

Is that the same mission or close to Elder Weiss?  He is in the Buenos Aries area isn’t he? (I guess that Portugal is sorta close to Argentina, isn't it? lol) That’s so neat . . . Joe, in his last letter to me said he thought he would be state side but look at that, he’s going to Argentina.   Maybe instead of thinking I was going foreign I should have thought I was going state side so I could go foreign. ooo well.   There were a few talks, not beating around the bush, saying that every young man needs to serve a mission who is able.  Everyone is able though the atonement.  I think they were talking about disabilities people may have.

The new comp is Elder Donald Peterson.  He dies in next transfer, and its going to be a long one with him... good thing I get to stretch and grow, or I would go crazy  . . . hahah! We have had a good few chats about being obedient, he was a zone princess (anyone know what that means?) for a few months so yeah just going to be a long one.  He is from Orem Utah.  He said he recognized Dorie from some where, not sure where but he does.

It wasn’t my bike that’s broken it was Elder Orton’s.  Mine is totally chill.  We are hitting the bikes really hard this transfer because we were way over last transfer so we are trying to figure it all out, and we will eventually.  I was on a bike in the winter, in the snow, nothing really stops the missionaries unless they are lazy or sissy lala bed wetter’s but there’s none here!!  We do bikes and cars in this area right now.

The weather here is silly and difficult to figure out. I may need to get a lighter, more water proof and wind proof jacket with a zipper... my other one is a little heavy and is meant for those negative temperatures, not the 40 above. Some Elders it’s just right for but for my AZ blood, it’s still a little bit chill!!  There are still spots of snow and still mounds of snow in the parking lots.  Its been raining all last night and today.

Today is kind of an interesting day.  We are with Elder Waller and his companion in their area.  Elder Peterson wanted to come back and see the area and I wanted to hand off Ray to them, so it all worked out.  We will be chilling with them all day today and going to the science museum of Minnesota.  Elder Waller and I are a little more on the nerdy side. It will be fun to do some "sight seeing".  He told me that mom was able to meet his mom and to talk on book face a little bit.

We picked up a new investigator this week. He is an ex convict and is having a rough time with the law, ex wife, and many other things.  He wants to get closer to God so he wants some help that way.  He will be an awesome atonement miracle.  He is a Protestant which will make the baptism a little more difficult for him to understand and the authority that is needed.  As we go over and teach to his needs, hopefully he will start to understand why he needs to be baptized by the right and proper authority. 

A few weeks I said a brief thing about a lady named Rose that is temporarily living in our apartment building (same floor a few doors down).  She has a very trying and difficult life right now.  As Elder P was unpacking, she knocked at our door crying uncontrollably.  We talked and were able to calm her down so that way we could understand her. Three of her children have passed on to the other side of the veil... 2 by suicide and one in gang violence.  Last and most recent one was in February, he hung him self in her closet... its been a difficult need to fill.   But being able to tell her that she will be able to see them again and that Christ has suffered even more than we can all comprehend... it hasn’t quite hit her yet... she is still very much in the shock stage and no one understands her pain.  It’s been difficult to help her very much.  This situation with Rose has pulled me down a little bit on the roller coaster side of things but once you go down you will go up. I have that faith.

The ward mission leaders and the bishop have talked to us about helping the ward and getting the young men involved in missionary work now instead of  when they go to the MTC (one of the conference talks was on this).  It’s going to be a new experience and a building one for sure!  Excited and a little nervous.

In weekly planning we saw that we call home this transfer.  Freaking weird if you ask me.

love you, have a good one.

elder baker