The Doctrine of Christ: During this past week my studies and the things that we have taught have been focused back on our purpose as missionaries. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. In this past week I have studied a lot on faith, and we had something amazing happen.
We were teaching faith to the Olivas family, we taught using one of best examples, from Alma chapter 32 in the Book of Mormon. Something about this scripture applied to the family as we read and studied verse 28. They have seen the good that has started to come into their lives and into their family. They are seeing the swelling, the small things that are happening. Their faith is growing each and every week and their questions and their understanding is growing exponentially each and every week. We have attended Gospel Principles with them for the past 3 weeks and each time the spirit is there very strongly, and we go pretty deep, but their and mine own faith grows. Faith is Power, and that power is the power of God. That faith leads unto sincere repentance, and that repentance leads to a desire to be baptized.
Friday: This day was crazy, just like last Saturday was. It started out with dropping off our zone leader at a meeting, and then with Elder Woods we went back to our apartment and started studies. Then we went over to a less-active and did some service putting in sod, and then we came back to finish personal study, when we received a call of someone moving in and needing immediate help. So we headed over and helped them move in, and then headed to our 1 o clock appointment with Bro. Parker. Then after we left the appointment, we got a call from our Zone Leader Elder Taylor that he was done with the meeting, and we hadn't even had lunch yet. So on our way to the mission office we got lunch on the way, and then dropped them off at their apartment and we finished our studies for the day. That morning I hosed down my watch, and now it has some water in it, so I left it at home to dry. For the rest of the day, I didn't have my watch, and it's crazy how as a missionary and you don't have a way to tell time you worry quite a bit more than with one. After dinner we had a couple of appointments that fell through, but it was cool teaching some members about how to share the gospel over social media, and getting a new Investigator named Jacklyn. She wants to be baptized! We have an appointment with her next Wednesday.
Saturday night: Beginning at 6 o clock we went out with a priest for the night. at first we stopped by Donna to ask her for referrals of people in the apartments, and she didn't know anyone. But we were able to teach more about Faith and what she needs to do, and shared with her that the temple open house doesn't have a long wait if you don't have a ticket. Afterwards, because our 7 appointment was cancelled, we stopped by a less active family that is coming back slowly and they kept their commitment to pray as a family. As they started to pray as a family the contention in the house settled, and two siblings didn't get into a fist fight in a week. It reminded me of how praying as a family helped me when I used to get contentious with my brothers, haha. Then we had one last appointment with a less-active family in the Spanish branch. They committed to make keeping the Sabbath day holy and putting God as their priority for their life and for their family.
Mother's Day: This day was wonderful. It started off with going to the Sageview ward. Sadly, Jaklyn didn't make it but the olivas did. In the gospel principles class, we discussed how Jesus Christ was chosen as our leader and savior before the foundation of the world. AFter that we came back and finished all of out studies. From there we ran over the spanish branch and there was a surprise when we sat down. The Branch President announced that Elder Valeri V. Cordon was presiding, and that made my head turn. So in our small branch, the 70 that gave the talk on the language of the gospel just happened to be visiting. Both sacrament meetings were about Mothers and parenthood and they were wonderful and filled with the spirit. After receiving some counsel about how to be better missionaries, we ran over to a members home and skyped home. As full-time missionaries, we email weekly and we skype twice a year. It was great, and after that we had to head over to dinner. After dinner with a hilarious family we had an appointment with Joel. It was sad because as we invited him to be baptized, we learned that he didn't have an open heart to study and ask God, and didn't believe that he would receive an answer. From there we had another appointment or two, and they were filled with the spirit and was a great end to the week.
Studies/General Thoughts: The scripture that came up into study during this past week was the scripture that was given to me by President Ernst. It focuses my mind on my calling as a missionary and what I am doing while out here, on the Lord's work.
2 Nephi 2: 6, 8
6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy,and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
Thank you for your letters and for your prayers as always, have a great week and happy Graduation!!!!
Love,
Elder Baker
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