September 26, 2011

fam.

That sounds ucky about dads shoulder. That was not a fun thing to go though for me; I’m sure it’s not for you either Pops. All will be well in the end though, right?

No I didn’t get an announcement from Laura. How about Jamee Day? Anything from that yet? Heard Cynthia Santacruz and Denny Watkins are getting hitched too. Goodness there was someone else that was getting together, but I can’t remember... has there been any premee missionaries lately? Ryan LaFay, Ryan Morse or Spencer lala. (He must’ve forgotten that Spencer got his call . . .)

Robert and Meagan fell though. Meagan came to church and we talked to her for a few moments, it sounds like something not so fun is going on. While I was speaking during sacrament she got up and left. I’m not feeling very good vibes from that at all.

Mark has been falling through. Heaven came to church :) she really liked the spirituality but disliked how long it dragged on. She had an excellent question at the very end of church. What does God have to say about heaven and hell? it doesn’t seem right that God would put his children in a miserable place like hell. That will be a fun one to talk about. When investigators, or any one for the matter, asks questions it sticks so much more because there is a sign of desire to grow not someone forcing them to grow. I am grateful Heaven’s desire to grow is increasing.  Condron fell though as well. This last week was a really bum week. We only taught 4 lessons but we got 1 new investigator and that was Zeyad, he is from Iraq and also a Muslim. He has zero intention to go to that place again. This is his country now. He has 3 little ones and is married but they were all asleep when we got there. He loves the Book of Mormon and the Bible, doesn’t know alot about them but likes to hold and read from them. He has been in the USA for about 7 months and loves it! There are no guns and not having to watch your back every second every day.

We did meet with Ty and Blondie. Unfortunately they didn’t remember sister (Ellen) Bowman. (they are Ellen’s sisters in-laws) We have about 7 different households in our teaching pool... slowly on the increase.  Hopefully this week will be a better week on feeding the pool.

Elder Katoa is in White Bear I think. Elder Orton is his district leader in  ...  I’m not sure where. President has cracked down on us calling other missionaries.  Elder mower is probably in shock. First new companion taking over the area ... but that’s the way it is. I think the first 3 or 4 transfers are the hardest trying to get a hold on missionary work in this new life.

With the new pants,(the missionaries have to wear dry cleanable pants now, I was just asking him why and I guess he pretty much put me in my place) President feels like we need to be more dignified with our appearance. These slacks make us look better in our presentation. There are only a few seconds that people are able to recognize us as representative of our Savior. With cotton pants that are faded because of the sun or whatever, are not as dignified or catchy to the eye. All is well mom. President prays and receives the direction from our Father. All is well. If he asked me to tract 365 days in a 3 piece suit I would gladly do that. All is well. 

I’m trying to send those pictures but there is some program on these computers that don’t compute or something and it takes some time to figure out. Today is a little crazy day. There’s a funeral at 11 for a young man that died last Wednesday morning in a hit and run in Utah. He got run over by a car at 4 in the morning going to a study group... he was 19, Jason Stevens is his name.

well I gotta run ... peace to the south west.

love elder baker

I love you all

Rochester, MN

September 19, 2011

dear fam.

Now that you say that stuff about grandpa I remember you saying something like that when I first said I would be coming here. Sorry I didn’t pay a lot of attention to that.

Treats are good, butterfinger, twix, gum … ummm the stuff you normally put in a box for me whatever it is, is always nice =)

Yup, there were a few chilly days … had to wear a little sweater not much. But I already miss the heat and humidity. The first frost came as well. People are saying that means snow earlier too.

Ok so info about Rochester. 2nd ward is mostly singles and interns and residents.  Tons of little kids, 4 nurseries and 2 primary’s. They have church right before us and gooodness is it loud in there. How they feel the spirit is beyond me. The zone leaders cover that ward, Elder Browning and Potter. They also cover 4th ward which is still younger, but kids are more in the teen years and that ward is right after us not a lot of info there. Elder Marks and I cover 3rd Ward, we cover the Mayo section but don’t have a lot of residents, more IBM and other backs. We cover a large portion of the city of Rochester, seeing that we are the only bike area in the 5 wards here. Our ward is very focused on Spanish work, they seem to be struggling finding people to teach ... i don’t know why Spanish people are so receptive but then unwilling to continue to meet. I have been able to use a little Spanish getting referrals and what not. President asked me to stay strictly to English, soo i am trying :)

There is lots of energy and excitement and smart people here. I got a dictionary awhile back to help me with reading Jesus the Christ and it’s also coming in handy for when we contact people. Using big words … yyuuuuuccckk!  I don’t know about first ward or 5 ward they meet in a another building, but from the small talk, all the wards are somewhat missionary minded and younger folks. In the Rochester zone there are tons of missionaries that used to be assigned as zone leaders and then there are also a lot that leave Rochester to be a zone leader. Lots of heavy artillery here it seems. I haven’t been able to figure out why I’m here yet but hey if that’s what the Lord wants He can have it :)

  

Maybe dad just needs like a metal suit like iron man that way he can do all the stuff he wants to without hurting himself :) that would be pretty cool.

Well this week was a really good week. We were able to pick up 5 new investigators.  Robert is one of them. He is 21 I think. It’s a little strange teaching someone my same age but I’m happy to do it. He has quite a pit of potential. He has previously given up smoking, drinking, partying, but he is living with a less active already returning member Meagan. She is 20.  Meagan was baptized when she was 16 went out with the sisters as much as possible but then fell of the deep end for a while. Robert started living with her and they are changing for the better :) that was a sweet find. Robert also does construction stuff right now he is replacing roofs, or something like that.

Heaven is the next one, she is dating a member Corey Wood, who is a less active. They are both 18 I think … been dating for about a year. I hope the gospel will help them out and get them to be who the Lord wants them to be. I’ve learned quite a bit about keeping a prayer in my heart when we teach them. It’s the only way to go now that i have realized that.

Julie and Lance Condron. The missionaries have met with them a lot, about for a year straight. When the missionaries were not here they saw what a huge difference in their lives with how close they are as husband and wife but also how close they are to God. They all started to drift apart. We did have to clear up some anti and that is never fun. Anti is so disgusting. How another Christian can rip another Christian church and put it as equal to dirt, just makes me sick!

Condron’s have been able to read from the Book of Mormon. They are an older couple. I think 4 kids and they have all moved out, they are kinda like you guys, old ha-ha.  And the last one we got yesterday his name is Mark. We were having dinner with a member, the Herds. He wants to be an anesthesiologist, or umm the person that puts you to sleep before the surgery. They had just signed up for dinner Sunday and it turned out to be for the better. Mark lives on the other side of the street.  Mark is an orthodox Christian and knows the bible extremely well.  He tore his acl in a skiing accident so lucky he is home a lot. He had surgery about 4 weeks ago I think, so still in a lot of pain and not mobile. He is in his mid 20s. His dad’s side of the family is LDS, and I can’t remember much more. When we meet with him later he is going to bring one of his friends over as well, probably more anti. But hopefully he just wants another friend to hear the truthfulness of the restored gospel.

Other interesting news ... a cable for my bike snapped. It’s the one to shift my back derailleur. It got stuck on the lowest gear so going up hills was quite a challenge trying to pump my legs. there are quite a few hills here. There’s also lots of corn fields, open space more up north in our area. We cover like city, city and very country country.

I think that covers this week pretty good

love you

elder baker

More Rochester news . . .

September 12, 2011

dear fam

Holey smolley this was like a surprise week like none other. The area I am in is Rochester 3rd ward, there are 5 total wards here in Rochester (roc). The members here call it mini Utah and so far it seems to fit just right. Every day we have run into 2 families at least. Sunday was full of seeing members going out for their walks or some sort of family time. I am not in a singles ward come to find out, but the ward its self is a very young ward. Tons of people doing their residency’s for something in the medical field.  There’s a huge medical I don’t know what you call it (I’d call it a facility), but the place is called Mayo Clinic, one of the largest in the United States from what I hear. 30000 people working at the hospital. I can’t remember all the details. 

When we all got to the roc stake center(for their new assignments) about to split of into our individual areas the zone leaders say oooo and by the way you are whitewashing with Elder Marks; here is the area book, go to work... so I got my stuff and here we are. Elder Marks has been out for about 6 months and hasn’t whitewashed or done anything too out of the ordinary. He is for sure learning a lot, trying to stay on top of the game, being obedient and using prayer as power instead of an irritance... any way all is well.  The ward was very welcoming and very nice. Elder Marks is from So Cali and is the baby of 3. Yes we are in a bike area :) and our area stretches about 20 miles north... :) Hopefully I will be able to talk Elder Marks into going there someday. I’m in the roc zone.  My address is.... umm that’s an excellent question. I’ll snail mail it to you later today. If you could send out some soups and chili that would be awesome!! Zumbrota Falls is the very tip of the area we cover. I believe there’s a few more areas “very sticks” that cover more south than me. I’ll see what I can find out. Since I’m whitewashing it may be a little difficult to find everything.

Have you called the mission office to let them know you moved??? Please do that if you haven’t all ready.  (He sounds like I’m an irresponsible parent, huh, what’s up with that?)

Yes we did challenge her (Mary Helen from his last area) to baptism.  She said I already have been ... she believes that Joseph Smith is a prophet and the church is of Jesus Christ, but she wants to stay with her church... she’s not connecting the dots. I am sure Elder Mower will be able to help her with that.

I have heard a ton about the fair (Minnesota State Fair). I don’t know if missionaries are able to go. If they do, they probably have a booth or something like that.

Well let’s see....... I’m in a zebra area. there are 4 missionaries Elder Marks and I are English and the sisters are Spanish. I think I should just be a Spanish missionary I’m not liking this teasing thing with being around so much Spanish ; )  Alot of the members here speak Spanish and makes it sooooo difficult to talk to them. Hard to understand the little bits and pieces of information we need. But all is well, we will get it figured out sooner or later, hopefully sooner.

well till next week. hopefully I’ll have more about the area and people we should be teaching.

love

elder baker

(I asked him what they did to remember 9/11) nope we didn’t do anything special at all. I don’t even think anyone talked about it at church or mentioned it. I did spend some time reflecting on that day ... the craziness and the blessing of having a united nation. It’s great to have reminders good and bad to bring us together and to remember we are all one body under God.

At the Minnesota Temple . . .

Funny faces  . . . Mower and Baker . . .  =)

Last district meeting before leaving Eagan.

DL's and ZL's

A new area . . . Rochester, MN

September 6, 2011

Fam

Today is going to be another short email. Life is sooo stinking busy we have 5 appointments today and I still need to pack. I like it, don’t get me wrong, but holy smokes!! transfer calls yesterday. I am going to Rochester 3rd ward. From what I hear I will be covering a few singles wards. My companion will be Elder Marks. I will not be district leader there. Elder Bowen will be.  He was my zl last transfer.  Elder Potter came out with me and was also my dl for a while he will be my zl with Elder Browing who is my zl now, soo kinda fun. I don’t have to learn too many new peeps. I am excited for a new change and get things moving down there. Pres said he is moving in his heavy artillery to Rochester. I told him I felt like a little hand gun though. We had a little laugh and now it’s off to work!                                                 

If there were 20 people in the temple here it would be packed!! That’s so awesome.  Pres. put some more clarifications (new commandments) … people only 45 minutes drive one way will be able to go to the temple. That cuts out a lot more people, it’s kinda sad but after the mission I hope to be able to go once a month like the prophet has asked :)

We did go about 2 weeks ago I think. I don’t remember to much of that besides the awesomeness and beautyfullness of it all. One of the members in the district was having a rough time. I was able to give some counsel and get them back on their feet. 

Mary Helen, we did meet with this week. I was gone for 4 days doing trainings and exchanges with other missionaries and Elder Mower got to see how difficult it is to remember everything, but tonight we are meeting with her. We are going to commit her to baptism. We prayed about it and felt good, now we gotta do it. Hopefully that goes well and we are able to get her on that track for baptism.

Dylan.... nothing yet he is still at his dads house but he is reading his scriptures and praying every day. It sounds like he is still progressing a little bit but not as much as possible. He needs the church and the fellowship that’s there. Once school starts he will be at Tina's on the weekends and he will be able to be at church. ooo school starts today. Looks like next Sunday he will be there.

It was hot, well warm and very humid, but yesterday was a little more on the chilly side. I walked outside at 7 am and I could see my breath. Winter is coming and I am NOT excited for the snow and the cold, but it will still be a fun time though. Rochester isn’t a bike area I think, so I won’t be able to have those kinda of crazy experiences like I did with Elder Katoa.

well till next week        

love      

ebaker