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