Minnesota memories July 2012

At the baptism held on Saturday . . . Ashen and Maria

Rhett and Elder Wixom, they served together before Rhett came to Duluth.

Supposedly they are studying . . . hmmmm

July 29, 2012

July 30, 2012

dear fam,

The baptisms where unique, none the less the spirit was there.  The speaker did well and the interesting part was the water was scorching hot. The member who did the baptism, our new ward mission leader John Paul normally never complains or says he is uncomfortable.  When he got in full body he said “it's warm, let’s put some cold water in to balance it." Ashen, as she put her foot in to see if the statement was true, sure enough she pulled her feet out and confirmed that the water was way too hot! Come to find out the member who filled the tank turned on just the hot water.... now we understood. It ended well and it was a good experience.

I do remember Brother Francis. One of his sons nick name was "fish" right? He was in the young men’s something scouting or Sunday School I can’t remember. That’s too bad that he is gone for a season... (we got word this week that a friend of ours drowned in a boating accident, only 55 years old)

A few highlights of this last week.

We went to teach our date sets before they got baptized. We talked about the baptismal convent from Mosiah 18.  Our joint teacher Matt Faerber (he is also the high councilor over missionary work that we meet with on a weekly basis) is a really smart man that’s always fired up. It’s amazing to see how much energy he has about sharing the gospel and how he doesn't have any reservations, at least from what I have seen with sharing the gospel. I have wondered about that for some time … I have also been studying my purpose in preach my gospel a little bit. There's a quote that's in there that talks about how if we do not share the gospel it is because of our lack of understanding the atonement. As we were teaching Ashen and Maria we turned to Mosiah 18.  In Brother  Faerber’s scriptures on this page it was packed with notes in the margins.  There was a verse that stood out to me -  when Alma prays before he baptizes Helam. He was than filled with the spirit and performed the ordinance with the spirit. In the margin it was noted  …  "alma prayed before he performed. Do I pray before I perform?"  I do fill bad for looking at his personal notes and his revelatory experiences, it was a great time for me to learn though and it all clicked in my head on why this brother is such a fireball.  He strives to understand the atonement and than apply the teachings in his life. 

We went knocking on a street that as normal we felt inspired to go to. Normally we find somebody on that street that we feel was that person that we needed to talk to. We generally stay in the city of Duluth but this time around we felt directed to the more sticky part of the area. We started walking down this dirt road and knocked on each door that we came to. This property was beautiful. It reminded me of the house in Tucson grass, trees placed just right, it was a great sight. (awwww, he liked our Tucson yard!) We knock.  Out comes a native lady that we talk to for a moment about the book of Mormon.  She tells us how she lost her copy and wants another one. Her husband, big grizzly looking guy, yet clean cut with a sleeve of tattoos. We have a great discussion. He talked about how in the Navy and sometimes in other jobs too, people say that  ”you can’t do that because it’s to heavy" or " you can’t stay awake for that long" etc… the connection between doing something and how people say it can’t be done bothered him a lot. He focused on something from deeper within that drove him. An artist Edgar Guest who talked about there’s no such thing as "can’t"  and every time he heard a "...can’t..." he thought of Edgar Guest and how he would help him  do whatever needed to be done. I then talked about how there are things that are much deeper and are a drive that makes things that seem impossible, possible. We talked about how God is that or at least is that ultimate strength from within to help us do all things – and that we have to remember that "God is bigger than the boogie man” … it was a great contact and lesson.  

At zone training, it went great. The elders were focused and willing and eager to learn.  Thankfully they had some energy and were willing to share their insights. There is an elder that’s going home (no one that you know) that is not focused at all.  It was interesting to see that as he bore his last testimony (when a missionary goes home he gives his last testimony at his last zone training/conference) his mind process and patience has grown and he wants to be more green with fuels and eat right and exercise to be good to his body, all wonderful things ... his understanding of the atonement though.... it made me sad to see that he has not grown a lot spiritually since the time in the MTC... 

Some men get a week out of a year; Some men get a year out of a week. 

This week should be funnnn, exchanges like crazy. Than next week will be ZLC on Tuesday, then leaving on Monday. (first thing he’s really said about coming home, my goodness)  Good times we may be hitting every district next week with the zone trainings.

hope all is well in az

love

elder baker

23 days and counting

July 23, 2012

dear fam,

sounds like there’s some fun times about to happen in Eagar.

I got a t-shirt from Thunderbay, there’s a 13%tax on everything that’s not food... the store that we went to didn’t have to much selection... some other day I suppose :(

I got my schedule thank you. What’s the dah class? psy is psychological class, spa is Spanish and there's a physical training as well. What’s the dah?  (it’s a dance class, won’t he be surprised?)  I believe I put the phx address for the residency..  for PE is there a track or swimming?

Can you let me know what my talk will be on in Tucson?

There’s been a lot growing on this week. President has shoot for 2 (future investigators) 3 (investigators to church) and 7 (member presents)  2-3-7.   In the mission last week 3 teams hit it, this week there where I believe 5 teams, but I read the letter very fast. President said that Duluth is leading the mission in something but he didn’t specify what. That is exiting to know!  Elder Wixom and I hit 1.5-4-7 better on church but low on FI's.    We have been in the pits the last little bit with baptisms we now have 5 date sets 3 that will happen next week and than the other 2 are set for August.

This week we are doing a zone training hopefully that will bust the missionaries and help them. I am going to do training on finding. I’m exited for that. There’s been a lot of things happen this last week. One of our part member families … the “part” in the family came up to us and said I want to be baptized next Thursday ... we called president and he gave us the go ahead to move as fast as needed. There’s a few tricky things with that though.  As zone leaders there’s a lot of travel and plans that will be moved around ... but it will be worth it. this brother has been a fully active member for 18 years. There was a priest that came up to him and said" I’m glad you hold the priest hood. can you help us pass?" that got him in the gut saying " no I can’t" and well in a couple weeks, he will now be able to.   (I sure loved that story!)

Our date sets for next Saturday are on the go ahead and had their interviews on Sunday. We will have 3 baptisms next week :)  ... this last week there were a few days that I was completely scatter brained with all the letters and goals,  the training, setting the baptism up, doing accountability calls... all got figured out and now I’m back to me :) busy days are nice but I would like to stretch a little less in that area with all the business going on. 

last week I lost my sd camera card.  I have an extra one and I’m getting pictures from the other missionaries. luckily I sent a few home that day and Elder Wixom and the other elders in this area have some pictures. There’s a few that I liked that none of the other missionaries have. all is well though.  (may be ok for him, but I want to see the pictures!)

all is well gotta start running... again :)

love elder baker

PS:  Rhett's flight plans came yesterday - He does indeed fly home on Aug. 15.  He will talk in the Picture Rocks Ward on Aug. 19 at 11:00 am . . . he'd love to see you all I'm sure . . . d

One more trip to Thunder Bay . . .

Missionaries, friends and cousins . . . doesn't get any better than that . . . Elder Waller and Van Orden in Pine City

Go Elder Quimette . . .

Burying the missionaries!

Damage from all the rain . . . turn your head sideways!   lol

July 16, 2012

Dear fam

4th of July was transfers. In the morning we went and dropped of some elders at the bus depot and than it was proselyting till 2pm. During that time we stopped by members giving them little missionary cards … it looks like a white shirt and tie and then on the back side it said "happy 4th of July ______ fam" It was fun got to talk with more members and get to know them better. This ward has difficulty on a friendship basis, but all is well. We are figuring it out. Then at 3 we picked up the elders that came up on the bus, did lunch and then played ultimate football (same thing as ultimate friz but with a football. it’s too windy for a friz) Than we went and played basketball at the church when the lighting wasn’t very good. A total of about 4 hours of running. All of our feet where blistered pretty good. We didn’t watch any fireworks. Elder Wixom argued that we wouldn’t be in our apartment even though we could have watched them from the parking lot at 10. But all is well, he is happy :)  elder Snedegar is up in tbay. We got to talk for awhile about how New Prague is doing and the baptism with an investigator that I had worked with. good days!   

No I haven’t seen my flight plans ( when I do get them a copy will be sent to).  This is what possibly will happen, at least it is what happened with other missionaries that have gone home. Tuesday the 14th i'll go to the mission office,  have lunch and interview with president -  do all the other going home things about marriage, setting goals and watching some video. Tuesday morning about 6 or 7 i'll go to the air port. I've talked to sister Larsen and its going to be a straight flight from Minneapolis to Tucson. What the times are I do not know.  I will get my flight plans in about a week I believe. This week I did get my letter about "finishers wanted" a talk from President Monson and now I’m working on my last president’s letter. Rather difficult with zero time, that’s what I’ve been working on during personal study and lunch and dinner time - working on that and just moving slowly.

I talked to Elder Braun, the car and bike coordinator. He is taking my bike to trail head for a tune up and an estimate. I may be getting around $300 for it. 

I’m sending a package home today. It’s got a few ties in it. If you could open it and hang them up, that would be wonderful :)  in two more weeks I'll send one more package home.

This last week was good. We taught 5 member presents and had 2 other lessons. That was sure nice to teach more. Also we got a new investigator. She has a son that is autistic, that is non verbal with tons of energy. He is 6. The other boy is 8 in 2 weeks. She and the boys came to church, a beast of a women! single mom. loves to play hockey and knock some teeth out and do some ball room dancing. great lady. 

Our date sets are on their way to the 28th. We are rather exited and the ward is very accepting. the last few baptisms that have happened have gone less active and disappeared. The date set now has come to church for several months only missing twice I believe. As a total, we had 4 investigators to church. 

After zlc (zone leader council) We went to North Branch and Pine City. On the exchange I went with Elder Waller. There’s a picture of him, Elder Van Ordan and me. Elder Waller is really finishing up strong. He is being a light to the other elder in the district who is also going home who is easily distracted. Elder Waller is doing wonderful though :) 

There is also a picture of Elder Quimette out on the point here in Duluth. After he climbed up the stick, his forearms were cramped up. I helped him stretch those tense things out and then we also buried Elder Quimette and Elder Checketts.  Also a picture of one of the roads from the floods, there’s not a lot of fixing going on right now. They better hurry up before winter starts again. 

One more week. It was a great one. zlc was funny. we were discussing rules and what ones missionaries are living and new ones to be implemented. One of the rules was no more using power tools. Out of honesty and seriousness I asked "what about a hydraulic wood splitter?" Everyone starts to laugh like they had not a clue what I was talking about. Presidents honestly came forth and he didn’t have a clue what it was, but said absolutely not to use those... I’m still wondering about that because they are much safer to work with than using and axe or mal, but all is well. 

Is there any news about what my talk in Tucson will be on? There are a lot of things to be thinking about right now, but if I could begin my thought process on that it would be nice. Have you posted that on face book and advertized it for all the friends of other faiths to come?  

Thanks for all the love and for not being very "trunky" 

love 

elder baker 

Last transfer begins . . .

July 2, 2012

dear fam,

Transfers are this week. I am staying in Duluth with Elder Wixom. There’s 2 white washes in the zone, I’m excited to see those teams excellerate!

It’s fine with me if it’s only family there at the air port. I’m not a big party person still. Small little family is great.  Elder Waller is doing great in Pine City. He is the district leader there. We get to have close contact with him. He seems to be turning things around in that district. Hopefully he will continue on in that. He is staying focused on the goal and really is uplifting as he talks with those around him. 

I’ve been thinking about selling my bike to the mission home. A mountain bike is fun and all but a road bike would be better for school and travels in the city. I could take the money from selling the bike and also save on the shipping it home to get a road bike. What do you think?

We did do a little bit of driving. 2351 miles this last month. Good times. People are so different. Elder Watkins enjoyed talking with each other and looking at nature with no music. Elder Wixom loves his music loud and forget about talking because he is singing at the top of his lungs. 

Today is not really pday, it will be on Wednesday do to the 4th of July. hopefully it will be a good one, being next to the lift bridge and the lake plus the fireworks, it will be beautiful. 

We got some good time in finding and teaching. I was able to teach Elder Ronstrom a few things right before he went home from Pine City to Sweden. He was scared about going home. Thankfully I had received letters and I was able to help calm his anxiety about going home, where his friends are less active. 

We found 2 new investigators this week, both are about 25 and agnostic. They lean a lot on the "what if".  Good first lessons and a good future a head of them.   We did a lot of knocking doors … on Saturday all day. It was nice to be outside in the heat. Sunday and Friday we were in the apartment a lot. 

Thursday was a blast. We did yet another exchange with the Twin Ports elders, Snyder and Smith. I went with Elder Smith and we taught 2 member presence. One of them was the date sets for the 28th of this month, a mother and a 9 year old. It was a little rough because they bicker like teenagers but in the end they both enjoy the Sprit and the fellowship. 

The other lesson the investigator knows it’s true but is not willing to commit fully. He lived the word of wisdom for a week. I asked if he knew the Book of Mormon is true. "that’s a loaded question. and I am not willing to commit to live the life style..'' We will get him there. We are trying to kick him in the pants and punch him in the face with love to get him to commit. 

It’s frustrating to know that some one believes in something that is good and teaches on a grander scale yet says ... not today maybe tomorrow. I think of Nephi, I don’t know why I am doing this or how to do it. God told me to, here I am doing it. 

There was an active part member family that we started to teach as well. The father said the whole time in circles around himself. " people need to stand up straight, take a deep breath and go outside." emphasizing the go. go go go. and enjoy it. 

(I have no idea what that paragraph was all about . . .)

I’m looking forward to this week and the go go in our own area :) No exchanges planned for now. There might be a lot of phone time with the elders that are white washing. Thankfully iI’ve done that a few times and will hopefully be able to help those elders out. 

I love you, thanks for the prayers and love

elder baker