This is the end . . .

dear fam,

The zone trainings went well. There was definitely a difference in the spirit with each district, mostly because of the conversion that they have had here on their missions. Amazing to see the definite difference. Thunderbay elders are for sure my favorite “go to” elders. They are pushing though anything and everything and are the best performing district right now. It’s wonderful to see and get to know all the elders in the zone.  

Tomorrow, Tuesday,  will be the temple day.  I believe I go at 330. President Hugh should be there, he said he would be. 

We were able to teach 3 lessons with all the craziness. 1 of them was a blessing and one that I would rather have not been around, but glad to see that we were able to supply comfort to a worried and scared mother. 

Ashen Diehl who is a recent convert of about 2 weeks.  On Saturday at around 11 o'clock they were crossing the road after doing some shopping at a Supper One grocery store. (anyone know what that is?)  A car going much faster than it should have been , the speed limit was 35 he was going about 50. The light was red and this car went up on the curb to pass the cars and took a right turn as Ashen and her daughter Maria where crossing the road. Maria was saved by being in the grocery cart. Ashen was hit, putting a huge dent in the hood and shattering the windshield. The man driving pulled around parked and walked away. Leaving the scene.  Luckily there was a fire fighters at Supper One, he witnessed the scene and was an immediate response. She has a broken back, and will be paralyzed from the chest down. She is still able to use her arms. She has had 2 cardiac arrests. Broken leg. Several broken ribs..  Her mother while at the hospital not knowing who to call, went though Ashen's phone and called us. We calmed her down and went over to visit and tried to be a source of support. It was terrible to see Ashen's mangled body. There were some brothers from the ward that got there first and were giving her a blessing. Ashen’s mother cried, possibly due to the spirit that was present. My stomach couldn’t handle that situation as well as I would like. We left after talking for a little bit. Today we will be going over again hopefully to see Ashen at a better state than she was on Saturday.     The hidden miracle in this is that her original date for baptism was Saturday, August 11.  The ward has been a big help and really reaching out to the family that’s in need, a sure testimony to me that the church is true. 

I am well. I am pleased with the service I have been able to render over that last 2 years. 

I love you see you soon

elder back

Not sure if this is the end . . .

Aug 6, 2012

dear fam,

I will be arriving in Tucson at 12:30pm. noon thirty.  It’s been different realizing how the days tick away one by one and are gone... but each day is effective and I go to bed dead tired and wake up dead tired.. life is good. 

This week Elder Wixom and I were on exchanges every day but Monday and Sunday. How we pulled though it, I don’t have a clue but all is well. It’s amazing to see how each Elder applies his understanding and faith to the work differently, yet the output for the most part is the same. Each one of us is different, just as each lesson that is taught is different. It’s all for the same purpose, to build the kingdom.

This next week will be interesting. Today we are going to Bloomington for leadership training which will be held tomorrow. Wednesday we will be doing zone training in the Pine City district on Wednesday. Thursday we will be doing zone training in the North Shore district. Friday we will be doing a zone training in the Thunderbay district. Friday night, Saturday and Sunday will be spent proselyting. All the other times we will be driving to and fro, helping the elder’s progress. 

We had a baptism this last week. Brother Tim Wagner who is a part of an active member family. After 18 years of being active in the church he decided to get baptized. The Spirit was strong. A lot of wet eyes and full spirits that night. Simply amazing, there’s no other way to describe it. 

Today I'll be sending a box home, 2 binders and a few odd ball things. I may send another one next week but I’m not sure yet on space and weight quite yet. 

 Duluth is a beautiful area. I will definitely miss the lake, the greens. It’s a wonderful place. 

I’m sure you want to hear more but I am spacing out on all the awesome things that happened this week on exchanges. 

hope all is well

love 

elder baker   

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 

Wild weather in Duluth . . .

Artie and I were watching the news on Sunday night and saw terrible pictures of weather in Duluth - we didn't know the report was 4 days old!  Kinda worried us and we called the mission home the next morning but couldn't get in touch with anyone . . . luckily . . . Rhett filled us in on the details . . . just normal parents worrying about their kids . . .

June 25, 2012

dear fam,

All is well in the neighborhood. This week has been a blessing. Monday did our thing, than Tuesday afternoon we went off to Aitkin to spend some time there and help out the missionaries. It was ... a unique experience. The mosquitoes are terrible there. All the standing water from all the rain. We didn’t wear coats for rain, or snow, or cold, it

was to stop the nasty little bugs from biting us. Terrible things.. there was a rain storm that moved in. much like the lightning storms in AZ, but more rain. Wednesday morning see that the storm hit really hard and sister Clements called and said to stay put! Do not to go back to Duluth. We planned to go back Wednesday and we were both out of extra clothes. Come to find out that with flooding roads are closed so we went to the library to figure out a route that would work. Rather ridiculous, but went well. The exchange with them was good and it reinforced that when we don’t teach or role-play that our ability to teach simply dissipates. Teaching is very much like faith use it or lose it.

We get back Thursday from our trip to Aitkin and coming in to Duluth the road comes down into the city and gives a glorious sight of the lake. It wasn’t such a glorious sight this time around. The water was brown and filthy , the destruction was very visible.  Not so bad all

over the city but in places it’s very bad. The news, it seems, makes the whole city look destroyed but it is not.  There’s a few members that have flooding in their basements. We live in the basement of the apartment building, but lucky all is good, no flooding. The manager was saying that it was very close to flooding over in side. We live at the top of a

hill and there’s a nice mud slide. Pretty awesome but glad that we weren’t around for it all.

Friday was a long drawn out day. Did a lot of paper work. It helps president, I am grateful to help but it was long. We were able to teach a lesson. That was a nice blessing. The investigator is going through the motions doing it but not "wrestling" as Enos taught. He comes to church and reads and is willing to put those things high on the priority list, but isn’t willing to "feel" or put forth the energy to come to the belief that the Book of Mormon is true.

Saturday. Meet with our “date set”.  The joint teacher was just right for this go around on teaching. We asked how he came to believe the Book of Mormon. The joint teacher said, “it just makes sense, simple as  that". The date set loved how simple the answer was. Members often go into so much detail and emotion that it just passes by some investigators that haven’t had the deep conviction that the church is true.

Met with the bishop. As always he asks what we can do to help him out, and so we help. His wife typically makes breakfast this time she was on a road trip and bishop rose to the bar. Omelets and tons of hash browns. We did just about a normal size bag of potatoes between the 5 of us there. I was stuffed. Hash browns are way good I’ve decided.

After that we headed off to Grand Maris and the Boundary Waters, to clear water from the resort where the Van Tassel’s live. Great solid member family that come to church about once a month because of the 3 hours and 45 minute drive. They have the sacrament up there once a month. We have an investigator in that neck of the woods and we made a

member action plan for the investigator with the Van Tassel’s. Both people run a resort and are super, super busy but they are also able to connect on a few levels. We are hoping all goes well. The investigator is in a part member family, some day he will get baptized.

Sunday church was good. Really tired and hard to stay awake. The part member family that lives in Grand Maris, well one of the boys got baptized. The father who is not a member is the last one to join the club. One of the investigators that we have who is 9 years old, drew me a picture of her getting baptized and saying she wants to get baptized with her mom on the 28th of July :) This is the one that was set for August 11. We are excited for that!

Today is Monday. Last night was numbers and monthly standards of Excellence, averaging, all that fun stuff. Got to bed at midnight, than this morning got up at 3;30 to get laundry and studies done to go to Pine City where I currently am. A missionary is going home Thursday and there were some midnight transfers that happened, so we came down to help the elders relax and keep on going.

I feel ... tired :)

love

elder baker.

a pretty good week . . .

June 18, 2012

dear fam,

Thanks to all for the letters and package. It was fun to open read, smell and eat :)

I thought of Joyce and her love for cows. This was out on the point. (He sent a picture this week of a bunch of cow stuff.   Panal Park is what it’s called. It was defiantly a great conversation starter. She wasn’t exited about the Book of Mormon.  I asked for her permission and away we went. I haven’t heard from Joyce for a while... hope all is well.

This week was a pretty good week. We had some great finding, both in the less active members as well as the future investigators. We were able to have elders in the area every day and it was defiantly an improvement. Plus there was no abnormal craziness that happened … double good. Every day was a full nights rest and ready to go in the morning. It’s been a blessing, also amazement. Elder Wixom isn’t pulling his full weight which is frustrating. I follow him with a garbage can. Some people are not taught to clean up or if you’re bored than to go do something. Thank you mom and dad for teaching me to go go go and work.

Wednesday was a good one. Elder Checketts is a new district leader and doing well. I was a little nervous at first but it all turned out much better than I thought. The elders are responding very positively to him. He loves and encourages them and when it comes down to business he gets them right in the gut yet he also expects himself to work. Great missionary and has been out a year. He came out with Elder Mower who I trained. I found some sad news about him.  Last or two transfers ago he went home :( not sure for what but he went home.

One of the lessons this day was with an investigator who is changing and growing. He admitted at first he accepted the book of Mormon because he thought that we would go away. He did not know that he would be going to church because of a desire. Rather interesting how that works :). Lately he has been going though the motions’ and not searching for a spiritual conformation.  We talked a little about Enos and how he cried and how he wrestled. It was an intense lesson that I hope got him to thinking a little more about change and listening to the sprit.

Thursday we had the midmonth zone leader conference call. When we did the accountability thus far for the month it was good to say that we have 5 date sets and many more coming. There was a week or two with Elder Watkins where it was 1 or 0 I forget but it was nooooo good. I’m thankful that it’s turning around. Every night we call a team in the zone and pray with them.

There was a RS get together that we had not a clue about. One of the investigators was invited to the meeting by someone, rides where arranged and all was well. We didn’t know about what was going on till about 4 hours before the meeting.  We get a text from the member who had arranged to give her a ride. She asked us to find a different ride. I was very willing to do it. It was rather frustrating though. I spent an hour on the phone and talked to several sisters who where unwilling or not able to help. Bless the last sister we called, she wasn’t planning on going. After a few seconds pause she said “Elder you know what, I’m going to go and pick up your investigator." I was so happy. but yet frustrated that the member who had arranged the ride did not follow though.  I texted her and updated her on the situation. Her text back wiped away my frustration. “Thank you elders I could not have done it".  I did not know all the situation behind the scenes. All I was, was the messenger. I shouldn’t need to ask questions or feel like there has to be a reason that I need to know, but to be like Nephi knowing that it’s a good thing and just do it. Simple as that.

Fast forward a little bit. This morning I studied out on the point on the beach with my shoes off. It felt nice. I read part of Jesus the Christ on the temptations of Jesus during his fast. The word "if" and how it was full of doubt. Coach Lindsay never enjoyed that word. Now I understand. "I wrestle demons of doubt..."   Don’t need to add more doubt than there needs to be. Press on and endure

Time is short, seems like whenever I have a lot to say there’s no time. Hope all is well thanks again for the love this last week

Love,  elder baker