We had a lot of stuff happen this past week, which included some new investigators, some progress with those we're already working with, and just a lot of fun that Elder Wheelock and I are having in this area. It's been great to serve here 4 months already, and see the Hand of Lord so often in this work.
Branch Thanksgiving Party: We had the branch Thanksgiving party this past Saturday and we spent all week inviting people to come that we are teaching or that we have contacted. We went and helped set up and then waited to see who would arrive. We had 1 person come, which was less than we had hoped, but it was super good for him to come. Tons of people from the branch were there, including some less-actives and other non-member friends that members brought. We were able to introduce ourselves at the door and talk to quite a few. The meal was also delicious: Two members of the ward smoke pork for the night. One of the people was an experienced smoker and slow cooked them right into perfection. It was very very delicious and it was cool to see some of the faces of members who tried it when it was first cut, because most had never had food like that before. For me, my dad makes a mean brisket and pork, so it's not too weird.
Zone Conference: it was powerful for this transfer. We didn't have one last transfer because the transfer started the week after the meeting with Elder Ballard. This one was all about our purpose as missionaries and the Spirit was there powerfully the entire time. One of the messages that stood out to a lot of us was from President Hall, a member of our mission presidency. He taught about the need to know, really know, if Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he was the prophet of the dispensation of the fulness of times. That we need to testify boldy that he was called of God to usher in this dispensation, where all of the priesthood keys from all previous times were restored to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. We also learned a lot about finding people to teach using goals and plans and had a wonderful meal to finish it all off.
Miracles: Over the past two days we started teaching two families/individuals who needed help and were ready for the gospel. One is a less active who has struggled over the past 8 months and is just done with looking inward and destroying all of the good in his life. We taught about the Atonement of Christ and he wept. He is ready to make the hard and long road that will lead to forgiveness. We also taught a family that contacted our bishop in one of the wards Sunday morning. The Bishop asked us to stop by and we caught them Sunday night. One recently got out of prison, and had attended LDS services in jail. He is already up to ether 7 in the Book of Mormon. There is a 14 year old daughter who, because of their life experiences up to this point, has the maturity of someone in their early 20's, and the mother was Pentecostal and is open to learning more. Super prepared people that the Lord put into our path. The area is just continually picking up and we found a lot of potentials within this past week and will have some new investigators this week.
Monday Dinner: We had dinner last night with a family and they have a foreign exchange student with them. We had dinner with them last night and it turns out that all of the families of the other foreign exchange students in the same program went on vacation and so they were housing them all for a day or two. There were from: Spain, 2 from Italy, Norway, and the Netherlands. When we moved into sharing a message, they were invited but not forced or anything to participate. All of them eventually came and listened for a minute. Afterwards, as we were leaving, one of the guys from Italy came up and asked us how we came to believe there is a God. We shared how. I went forth Believing and then had the evidence given to me. I have had experience in my life where I cannot deny that there is a God and that He knows me, that I am His son, and that He is concerned with my daily needs. It was an amazing experience to share our testimonies with them.
Temple: We went to the Temple today and it was amazing. Sorry for everyone that was expecting an email yesterday but got one a day late. Hahaha.
Things are going swell over here in Idaho in the work of the Lord.
Thank yall for your prayers, letters, and support.
Love,
Elder Baker
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