Wednesday:This past Wednesday, was just one of the busiest days we've had in a while, and after discussing and focusing more on teaching Repentance, it was amazing. After getting all of our studies done, and having eaten lunch, we headed out for our first appointment at 1:00 PM. This was with Marcelino, one of the few new investigators that we have met over this transfer. He is from Mexico and is very shy. When we were getting to know him more, we learned that he did not know anything about or believe in God or his son Jesus Christ. We taught him about his God and then taught him the way to pray and learn more about them. We are going back next week, but we don't know how receptive they will be or if they will keep their commitments. One of the other amazing things that happened was with Nacho. We fully taught the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited him to be baptized. His answer was very interesting. He didn't accept, or deny it. He told us that he took it very seriously, that he had to think and pray about it, and that we had done our job. We had, as he put it, "opened the door, now he just had to decide whether to go in or not". We are going back in 2 weeks, because in a couple of days they are having a new baby, but the ward is keeping a good eye on them and offering help and support. The spirit was so strong and you could see something click in their countenances. This is one of the most amazing things about being on a mission. You invite others to come unto Christ!
Mission Tour Meeting: So we had a mission tour this week. From Tuesday to Thursday Bro. Littlefield (director of training for the MTC in Provo) and Bro. Ware (Technology in the Missionary Department) were going through the mission and planning, teaching, and working with our Mission President. This all came to a climax on Thursday, with a 7 Hour Meeting (it was better than it sounds). It all started at about 8:00 and ended at about 4 in the afternoon, with a little bit of time for lunch. There were many mind-blowing things that we were taught, but one of the most amazing was about the elect. There are the elect in the world, who have been prepared to accept the gospel, and we have to find them. The elect are those who listen and act, because you have to listen with an open heart to feel the spirit, and then act for the spirit to testify to you the truthfulness of the Gospel. And then they taught us about helping the ELECT MEMBERS. Helping them do missionary work. I can't write down all of the details or about too much, because it was just wayyyy too much stuff. But one of the coolest things that was taught was from the New Testament in John Chapter 15. If we abide in our Savior Jesus Christ, and he abides in us, we will bring forth much fruit, and we will be his disciples. The spirit was amazing, and we immediately implemented what we learned, and have seen the power of following God's will in this work (because most of what they taught was from Preach My Gospel).
Exchanges: This past Saturday I went on Exchanges with my Zone Leader, Elder Taylor. It started on Friday night and went until Saturday night. He is a piano music major from Virginia, and the member home they were staying in had a grand piano. It was awesome. Then Saturday came. After exercising playing basketball and volleyball at the stake center, we did our personal study. Right after that we rushed over to meet with one of their ward mission leaders. To explain most of what we did that day, let me go over something we learned from the meeting, or that we did there. Bro. Ware, after teaching us about how to work with members, asked us to pray for revelation about who those elect members are. This ward mission leaders was one of the elect members that Elder Taylor and his companion had been prompted to go to. We explained what we had learned and he was very excited to follow it. Apparently this Ward Mission leader wondered why there were so many missionaries in Idaho Falls, especially since there were so many members. After explaining this it all made sense, because the spirit was there testifying to him. Then we ran over to help move in an investigator for another area, after which we ran to quickly have lunch. Then after finishing studies we went out for the rest of the day. We visited about 5 of their elect members, including one of the priests. We also got to chat about music and the work and are planning to play together on a pday, because I recently found out that there is a bass in the city that can be transported somewhere for a couple of hours...
Sunday Talk in the Branch: Yesterday in the Spanish branch I gave a talk on the Godhead. I was told to keep it simple, but some of the simple things I learned were awesome. The focus of my talk was actually about faith in God the Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ, through the Holy Ghost. Two of the scriptures that explained this for me and helped me give my talk were about learning and then having faith. The first is found in John 8:19. By knowing Jesus, we can know the Father. And then to increase that faith, it is through the Holy Ghost. Alma 32:27-28. By studying in the scriptures, which testify of Jesus Christ, and praying to our Heavenly Father, and living the gospel, we can increase our faith and testimony in our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ. It was awesome to be able to share that with the people in the branch, and my Spanish wasn't too bad haha.
Studies: Something that I studied yesterday in the Book of Mormon really stood out to me. A lot of times, we think that if we live the gospel and are obedient, then we don't have anything bad happen. but these people were persecuted because of their firmness in the faith. And the descriptive phrase, heaped upon them, really got me. But through staying steadfast and immovable, we have a bright future because we are keeping the commandments of God. Despite all of the persecution, they continuously kept the commandments, and in the end were blessed abundantly. This is something that tries faith, patience, and hope though, and it's not always easy. But the end will be bright if we keep the commandments faithfully. Alma 1:25.
25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them.
Hope that everyone had a great week, and sorry for my email being all over the place. Too many things happened, and with too many details to be able to condense it all nicely. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Love y'all,
Elder Carson Maurice Baker
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