March 28, 2011

March 28, 2011

Dear fam

I just did the pictures to make sure there is enough time to get those to you. (I will load some pictures soon . . . there were some fun ones)

I'll add little Kam and Sister Bliss on the prayer list. Thank goodness for the gospel and Christ so life isn’t as rough and is much easier with Him in our yoke.

Yes this week is transfers. Elder Orton is leaving and going down south to Fairmount. It’s the lowest (most southern?) the mission goes.  I am getting Elder Peterson from Rochester 5 ward.  He is coming from one of the highest baptizing areas in the mission.  So I am glad to get the area moving even more!

I did get a letter from Tabitha and also Joe Bower this week. I wonder if the problem is from AZ to the mission home. Sister Braun has been calling when she gets the mail and I have gotten all of it. Not sure what to do about this junk of a problem.  (I've had 3 letters returned, hopefully the problem is fixed - if you had a letter returned, just send it to the mission home again, it should find it's way to Eagan)

Hopefully here soon we have some child convert baptisms. Ray nelson got his exgirlfriend and  his current girlfriends permission for the kids to sit in on our lessons and also to be baptized much later. But with the sprit we hopefully can do it when the kids are ready, it still may be a while.

Tuesdays are district meetings and we normally go out to get some food but since Elder Mortimer (zone leader) is leaving we decided to have a bbq for him since he is a farmer kind of guy. There was a lot of food and a lot of fun. Elder morty sure did cry a lot. I hope I am not like that - didn’t cry when I came out, won’t cry when I go home. Elder Kinikini my trainer is going home on Wednesday.  He is the assistant to the president so I have been able to call him a lot and receive some help from him, it’s going to be different for a little bit not having him there to help me out.

On Wednesday we got 4 more freaking inches of snow. Our cars were grounded, so we went out on our bikes. Elder Orton’s bike broke and so we walked for about an hour back home. Wednesday was a long day lots of walking, walking and more walking.  I kinda felt like a pioneer but one having proper clothing… they were total beasts back then : )    On Wednesday night we had some sort of incident, we still aren’t sure what happened, but our under carriage cover for the car broke off on Thursday. When we drove it in (to the repair shop) they said it would only be an hour but we where unable to leave for 3 hours – 3 hours of doing nothing!  But we got some new tires as well. I guess Minnesota has as legal requirement on how bald tires can get.

On Saturday we were able to witness Mark Deah's baptism. At first he wanted Elder Miller to baptize him. Elder Miller suggested me and than I suggested Elder Katoa. So Elder Katoa drove out as well. It was a nice family kind of reunion.  Mark looked so happy that he was doing it. he couldn’t and said he wouldn’t stop smiling.  However it was kind of sad no body from his family showed up.  He has very little, if any support.  He can either be very great member or go less active. Hopefully he stays strong.

At district meeting on Tuesday, Elder Wardle challenged us all to go to a different church - Lutheran Catholic or something, that way we can understand what its like for investigators to come to our church, and also to build our testimonies of the restored gospel.  Since there is a Lutheran church on just about every corner, we went to one of those. It reminded me of when we went to auntie Laura’s and uncle Alfie's church. How are they doing?

This week was kind of a bum week for lessons.  A few canceled on us but we also were able to get a few appointments with some member referrals. I am so happy and exited we have some more people to work with!  Being inside teaching and not outside tracting is a huge blessing.  Hopefully with Elder Peterson we can continue to build the kingdom and also our teaching pool : )  well gotta run love you all

elder baker

17 transfers 5 down 12 more to go

 I paid my ticket over the phone because I figured it would be a little more secure. Hopefully it was. It only charged $145 and some cents instead of the $210 I thought it would be. I called some officers and the ticket place to make sure it was all good and dandy. so far all is well.

March 21, 2011

March 21, 2011

fam

Yes I was able to talk to the people at the post office. But they didn’t really care or whatever. He said he would talk to the driver but you could tell he wouldn’t... I did get a letter from Nessa and you this week though, on Saturday, it was the camera sd cards. Sister Braun has been out of town some where she gets back tomorrow I believe. so I’ll call her than and see what the next step is. (Havin real issues with the Post Office – I’ve had 3 letters returned and grrrrr so unhappy about this . . . )

The wind here is very cold, and annoying … kinda like what Rand feels like, and it’s never constant in the direction it’s blowing. You never know, the weather here it’s so unpredictable.

So investigators... well it’s defiantly been a trying, rough week. Andy canceled on us. I think he and his wife have a rule that they can only send /respond to one text a day. We were supposed to meet with them twice and than they where suppose to come to the presidents fireside and nope nothing there.  They even said they would come to church and nothing all week.

Ray Harstead kinda progressed this last week. We had a nice chit chat with him. We didn’t teach anything we just talked and he said he wanted to start trying to not smoke any more. So, he is moving either this week or next and it will make it a little more difficult but it’s all in the lord’s hands and with him he can do it like he has in the past. In the (two or so years) past he was smoking a pack a day and so the elders gave him a blessing and he stopped smoking.  But the bum got bored and he started smoking again.  We will go the same route, I think, but keep him busy so he doesn’t get bored again.

Hilda got anti-ed a little bit like normal and we weren’t able to meet with her at all. We where actually going to go to her church but she asked us to not. We will give it another try this week.

Ray Nelson has also canceled on all of our appointments. However with him I can understand. His girl friend is a bout to give birth and is not very happy and struggling. She should be about to have their boy this week I think, but I don’t really know.

Redwing is not in our area but in our district yes.  Our district is very ummm unique. Instead of surrounding each other it’s more like a straight line. We have 10 missionaries in our district. Kinda the largest one I think. Yes we did  a blitz there because they haven’t been teaching or finding very well so we all went there to kind kick start it moving again.

Yes I got my gps. It’s really helped alot. It’s been saving us a few more miles and so that’s always nice. But it wasn’t the only large expenses.  Tuesday we had district meeting and we were going to lunch.  The assistants came because its Elder Kinikinis last one to see all of us (Kinikini is an assistant) and they don’t have miles at all. They were able  to drive their van that they use for for transfers but we weren’t all able to fit. So I drove our little vibe and semi followed them. lol it was my first time being able to drive in 5 months. Elder Kini was driving a little fast. and I wasn’t and some how I got pulled over.... stinking my stomach has been in a mess this whole week, which didn’t add to the “not fun week” at all.  But it just means that this week will be that much better. The officer said I was going 10 over. I really didn’t think I was so we talked for a little. I guess he thought I was giving him lip, so he gave me a really nice fine. $210 or something like that...  yeah no good. so I'm kinda sick of driving already, and seeing cops.  We were able to talk with a few more this week.  Just been a no fun week with cops and the law and yeah. (jeez, wonder what else he’s been up to?)

On the flip side we where able to pick up another investigator April called us (not April from Brooklyn Park, different April) and said she wanted to meet with us again. We will be going over there on Thursday I think, but I am not so sure.

I guess the week hasn’t been that bad we have almost been able to reactivate the Rodriguez family. They have come 4 Sundays in a row. If he continues to come for (I forget how long) he will be able to receive the higher priesthood. sorry I forgot how to spell melkezodic or however it’s spelled.  (I think he meant Melchizedek) that’s been a blessing being able to work with that family.   : )

This morning we had an interesting experience. A lady had moved into our apartment building and my time is almost up.... gosh well long story short she was able to find us and we will start teaching her tonight. We will be giving her a blessing.  Her name is Rose.

I have some pictures but ill have to load them next week.

love you

elder baker

March 14, 2011

Dear fam

That’s awesome that Joe probably has his papers in!  When a preemie sends them in it goes to the stake president and than they send the whole thing together. Last I heard about Jordan he was having a rough time at school and not sure where life was going. Keep me posted on all this stuff.

Yeah some days are warm and some days are well, not so warm.  Like one day it was in the 10's and the next in the 30's. Minnesota is just like that, jumping all-around. From what I have heard, this is a really long winter compared to normal (snow on the ground and temperature drops like this).  This next week it supposed to have a lot of rain and snow so who knows...

I have not received any mail for the last 3 weeks.  Not you, not Nessa, not anyone. sooo it’s probably lost or still hanging around in the mission home or some thing.  (being the mother I am, I called the mission office this morning to find out what’s going on . . . Talked with Sis. Brown and she was glad I called.  She’s going to check and see where the problem is – sweet lady who is aware of Elder Baker!)

What have I learned about time on the misson...? well... when there is any extra moment or something, I take the time to close my eyes to sleep a little - hahaha.  I have seen that there’s a lot of teenage stages of life and also when you’re a kid growing up.  Trying to get friends, trying how to figure out how to react to situations, trying to figure out who we are, trying to be who we want to be, the rebel stage, to every thing there is a season and a time under heaven. We go though different things at different times so we can not only develop our brain the way it should but also our bodies and spirits.

I’ll be able to go to the temple next transfer so I’ll for sure set some stuff up with him to talk and to learn from him. He also knows Elder Orton’s fam a little bit so its kinda all around a small world. (Pres. Kent Hugh the Minnesota Temple President)

That may be a blast for them (Spencer and Elder Preston) to be in the same ward but there may be a reason why we get sent places where there is no family or too many friends.

Let’s see (investigators) Andy Nasland . . . we went over there.  He said, "well its about time you come back over".  Elder Orton got really red and said sorry.  ha-ha I thought it was funny, that dork.  Anyway, Andy really likes it all but is having some troubles with modern day prophets. So we will be watching a conference with him so he can have a testimony of it and than be baptized. We will hopefully set a date with him in the middle of April.  We will figure that out later.

Ray Harstead is still a bum. (it sounds like he might be a little frustrated with this guy)  He knows it all but is unwilling to change. We will be doing some spirit booms (anyone know what that is?) get him to stop smoking and drinking again - some missionaries are slackers - and than get him baptized hopefully.

 We picked up a new one yesterday her name is Hilda. She is from Kenya and is a seventh day Adventist.  So a very odd mix especially because she wants to learn more from us (normally 7^th days are very anti and do not like us) we gave her a Book of Mormon and she was exited to read and compare it to the Bible.

I guess you can send stuff to the Eagan address.  Elder Orton will figure stuff out if I get mid-nighted.  This week or the next would be the times if I do.  We have both kinda felt like there’s going to be a change some time, but if it doesn’t all is well :)

This week on Tuesday we blitzed Redwing which is a 2 hour drive from our appt! so we spent just about all day over there.  There we learned that Minnesota has a large population of Norway people. (Norwegians?) and that’s where ufda comes from. lol

We where able to teach Ray Nelson. He is the most legit less active ever.  He still has his Preach My Gospel and studies it, as well as the Book of Mormon, or at least he is starting too again.  We are teaching his 2 girls and 1 boy.  Once his girl friend has their boy we will be teaching her.  So the area is really about to be rolling.  At least we got it back on two feet and are taking baby steps.

We also talked to a roman catholic nun on Saturday.  That was sure interesting.  She has her own house, own car and she lives alone. I guess the stereotype for them is not exactly true.

I got a really sweet bloody nose some night this week.  It was bleeding and bleeding, it was weird because I never really had bloody noses before, not even too much in wrestling.  One day just bloop, got a bloody nose that just tried to runny away from me.

Today I will be going and getting the gps. I think I’ll be going to Best Buy they had some deals going on so I’ll be getting it there.

well that’s this week :)

love you all

elder baker

fun in Minnesota!

Look at the size of that icicle!

waiting for cars to come so we can push them up the hill . . .

locking up our bikes, is this legal?

March 7, 2011

March 7, 2011

Dear family

Our Sabbath here in the upper western and mid western states was sure darn interesting and different. I don’t know if I told you all what was going on or any thing soo now you get the whole thing. Last week it was announced that a general authority would be joining us for our stake conference.  During the week it went around that it wasn’t just our Stake, it would be all of Minnesota, Iowa, Wyoming, and a few other states would also be having a general authority and it would be a broadcast, not a physical attendance. At the stake center every one or at least Elder Orton and I where excited to see who we would be hearing from.  It was Elder McCook, Mary McCook (not his wife. She is young womens something), some presiding bishop and than it was President Eyring.  It was super neat to be able to hear their words at another time of the year and not just the general conferences. The talks were around preparedness - like having a year supply of food, having money put way somewhere safe, having a temple recommend even if you can’t go, going to the temple - that’s the basics of it all. We didn’t have any investigators there but we did get a less active family there. That was the Rodriguez fam. They are Hispanic from Puerto Rico.

Elder Orton and I are getting a long just fine. He keeps on improving and we are unified, so it all is working out great :) well here is some thing funny about him  - the dork hid some of the teaching records of the investigators that they had. so that’s where all the investigators went. that dork! we had a little chat about it and this week will be a week of teaching instead of finding like the last 2 weeks ahaha.

Something funny I saw  ...  it snowed 3 more inches yesterday... does that count?? ;)  (I had asked him to share something funny that happened, I don’t think snowing counts!)

Lets see, so last week we got or maybe a few weeks ago we got anti-ed a lot.  This week was a try and convert us week.  The funnest part of that is on Saturday we had a Muslim tell us we need to ask Allah if what we are doing is right and if we are in the right church. He bore his testimony to us and said he would love to have their missionaries talk with us so we can have the real church in our lives. That was funny.

Something unusual to eat. nothing here. we only had one member dinner and that was ham and funeral potatoes. so all the other time I was eating rice.

Weeellll it’s been another great week of finding. On Monday we where knocking doors in this super nice area - like 3 story houses with 4 or 5 car garages, long heated driveways - it was ridiculous. But anyway, at the last door for the night a young teenager opens the door I start talking with him and 2 cops come cruzing around the corner lights going, crazy, the whole thing.  Elder Orton says you keep talking with him and I’ll talk with the cops.  I keep on contacting and the cops wanted to talk to me too. I give the kid a mormon.org card and turn to talk to the officers.  After taking our id's and like a 10 minuet interragation they let us go.  They said we were knocking doors past 8 ... I kid you not, no lie after all this happened and we were leaving we checked the time and it was 8:15.     oooo my goodness it was so dumb. like 5 minutes after 8 were we knocking doors. whatever though the church is still true.

Since we can’t knock doors though, it came to be a blessing later in the week.  We went by a less actives home who’s last name is Gutierrez.  She pulled us in and said I am only letting you in because it’s cold out side (it was like 20 degrees not cold at all).  Normally when that happens we get ripped on saying, they don’t want contact from the church or how they hate the church or what not. But she was fairly nice. She told us her life story and why she was less active. But said she was really glad we came by and she told us to come by again, but not too soon, so she can slowly figure her life out again and have the blessing of the temple again in her life... so defintely a blessing on both parts.

At some unmaintained townhomes on Friday in the more sketchy part of the neighborhood, I just about got hurt pretty good. There was a large over hang over the whole side of the home.  There were icicles hanging down and there was a truck parked underneath all the over hang and so was the door.  We laughed and talked about how jacked up the truck would be if the over hang fell off. I knocked the door, no answer. (standard is to always knock twice) I knock again and I decided to jump down off the stairs on to the pavement. As I hit the ground the over hang falls down... we both stood there in awe for a few minutes as the truck alarm was going off.  That was a really intense moment... (and so what happened?  He never finished the story!)

On Sunday, Curt Hugh I don’t know how to spell it, (after I thought about this, the man's name is Kent Pugh/Hugh) but he comes up to me and he says “Elder, you look like some one I know, tell me a little about yourself.”  I told him the standard - Arizona, Tucson, I have been out for a 6 months and then I told them your and dads names and where you're from. Then he said, “Yup I know you, you are a Haws. I taught your mom (really it was Sug) and Willis  and some of the other haws kids in seminary at Round Valley.”  He told me to send his regards. He is now the temple president of the Oakdale (which is actually called the Minnesota St. Paul) temple. He said Elder Orton and I should talk to President Howell and go by and talk with him sometime in the temple. soo we got a free in there. Thank goodness the haws kids weren't to crazy back in the day ;)  (thank you Willis and Sug for being a good example in high school, good thing he didn’t know me back then!)

I think I have given you some back round on the picture waiting to push cars up that darn hill in front of our appt.  We may get to do the same thing tomorrow and Wednesday.  Another huge blizzard is supposed to be coming this way.

well till next week

love

elder b

a few photos!

Cute Elder Baker . . . writing letters . . . hope you write him!

Elder Baker and Elder Miller conquer  . . .  the hill!

February 28, 2011

a quick not from Elder Baker:

Trying to listen to the spirit has been what we have been trying to focus on this week. One night we had planed all this stuff to do and we both were not feeling very good about it.  We decided we should do some less active work. So we pulled out the ward directory and went by a less active’s home. This man came to the door and said elders I have been praying and hoping you would come by soon. That brief moment we were able to talk to him was a very spiritual moment for me. Having the spirit as our guide is so nice