Exchanges: Going out of order for everything that happened this week, but one of the interesting things was Exchanges with the Elders that are serving in Arco. It started Friday night, when we had to drive up halfway to Arco just to switch.
After we switched the day (Saturday) of exchanges was one of the craziest days that I've ever had on the mission. It was a fight just to complete all of our studies, but the spirit was with us and it was all completely worth it. It started at 8:30 Saturday morning, where we were helping a man and his daughter move some boxes. Because we thought there was more than just a small room of boxes, we did it pretty fast, but was told that was it. From about 9:00 to 9:50 we did a little bit more personal study. Then at 10:00 we headed over to the stake center to go to stake baptisms because the Carillo's were planning to come. They didn't show up, and so afterwards we headed back to finish our personal study, but not soon after starting our study again, we got another phone call. It was telling us of someone moving, and that they needed help asap. So we headed over to help someone move for an hour and a half. After that we arrived very late for a ward lunch (that followed a service activity). After the lunch, we finished our studies and then had to go fill out our progress records to send off to all of our leaders. From there, Elder Crosby, who was with me that day, heard one of the family history consultants working there say his last name. Elder Crosby had the Crosby line of his family unconnected, but with the help of this consultant was able to quickly connect his great grandparents and open up a huge line of genealogy work to do. From there we ate dinner on the front lawn of the branch's relief society president's home, and then headed to our appointments. The first appointment was a powerful lesson on the temple and the Book of Mormon. The next was an amazing lesson on prayer and the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ that come up because of the temple. Finally, the last appointment for the night was a Spanish appointment about families and not judging yourself to stop from fulfilling your duties. So many amazing experiences and heart touching experiences have come because of the temple open house here in Idaho Falls. Because the temple is the House of the Lord, the spirit resides there and the people can feel that. Can't wait for me people to be touched by the spirit. The exchanges finished off for the night with Milkshakes at Reed's Dairy and making the drive halfway to Arco and back. phew, what a day.
Olivas: This past week we had another lesson with the Golden Family, the Olivas. With the parents and Sis. Olivas' little sister, Jocelyn, we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. One of the things that this family has had is spiritual experiences in the past where they have felt the Holy Ghost. When talking about these past experiences, they each explained how they felt at the time of their children's birth, and how at different times they felt prompted to help some one, to do something good, or received peace during a trying time. They are still coming to church every week and are progressing very smoothly.Jocelyn is also now taking a part in the lessons and is interested in learning more. All three of them, along with the children, came to church on Sunday and participated in the Gospel Principle class that was being held. It was interesting, but the topic of conversation during the class went way off topic and we were then talking about trails and how they are meant to strengthen us and to strengthen others. We have another appointment with them tonight!
Today: For the past 2 weeks, we had scheduled today as the day that we were going to take our temple trip. In this mission, now that the Idaho Falls temple is opening back up, we can go to the temple 4 times a calendar year. I haven't been since I was in the MTC, and so today was amazing. But when we first woke up today, the person who was going to give us a ride to the temple had to cancel because they were feeling sick. We then called about 30 people until we found some one that was able to take us. Then we took the 30 minute drive up to Rexburg, and the temple inside was beautiful. It was amazing and the spirit was there even more than it was in the open house. After we went through the temple we stopped by Blister's BBQ and then headed back down here. For the rest of today for the p-day part of it, we are emailing and shopping and stuffs. It was awesome! And I remembered to take pictures.
Friday: Friday was amazing. Some of the coolest things that happened started at about 1:00 in the afternoon. We went on Mini-exchanges for 3 hours and so I went with Elder Woods. We had an appointment at 1:00, but for the rest of the time we were walking and trying to visit people in one of the neighborhoods that we work in. During this time we had a conversation and discussion on Humility, and fulfilling the scripture that is given in the Book of Mormon Ether 12:27. We both had put a lot of burdens on our backs in this past couple of weeks and felt overwhelmed, but we were both committed by our Zone Leader Elder Taylor to make a list of our strengths, and then use them in the work. I had been too focused on the weaknesses that I had, and that was just bringing me down. Ether 12:27 does not mean to focus on our weaknesses, because that does not make us humble. The thing to do is to come unto him, and he will show us our weaknesses, and as we continue to come unto him in Humility and Faith, he will make weak things become strong. From then on, the weekend was just wonderful for me because I trusted in my Heavenly Father and moved forward, and didn't focus on all of my mistakes and shortcomings. After that mini exchange, we went through the temple open house with Nelson Rojas, one of our investigators. He felt the overwhelming sense of peace that comes from being in the temple and wants to go back. For the rest of that night we had to run to all of our different appointments, but there were all wonderful and God lead the lessons through the power of the Holy Ghost.
P-day, but not P-day: Yesterday was weird, because the whole time it felt like it should be a p-day, but it wasn't. One of the great lessons we had that night was with the Egberts, a less active family. They went through a very very hard time years ago and haven't turned fully to receive that peace. The spirit strongly testified that the peace and the things that they are seeking for right now are found as they pray unto their Father in Heaven and study his word. This past week was amazing, and that night before going to sleep I was able to make my new planner, so that was nice. Phew.
Studies: The scripture that sticks out in my mind was something that we shared with the Egberts and that came from our daily study in the Book of Mormon. This is during the war chapters, but the same principle that saved those sons of God can have the same results for each one of us as we pray with all of our souls in prayer to God.
Thank you for your prayers and your support. To tell you about transfers, Elder Velarde are staying in the same area together for another 6 weeks!!!
Love y'all,
Elder Carson Baker
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