October 16," 18 Months"

I hit 18 months of serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this week. It is a very surreal feeling, to say the least! I am so grateful to God for changing my plans and asking me to do more for Him than I thought I was able or willing, to serve a mission. It has made me all the better, deepened my faith in His son Jesus Christ, and allowed me to have the experience of a lifetime. I cannot imagine my life without this refining, humbling 18 months. 

We had zone conference this past week, my last one. We talked a lot about role-plays, contacting, using the Book of Mormon, essentially all the things I am working on. It left us very inspired to work hard and see miracles in Pace. 

We had a lesson this past week with Wendy, before she left on a trip to see her family. We were a little worried, considering that some of her family are not too happy about her taking the discussions. She told us that she knows and understands more now about the church than last time she took the lessons and that she cannot deny what she felt when she got the priesthood blessing in the hospital, so she isn't too worried about it. I am very grateful she had that amazing experience with the blessing, that she felt the "warmth going through [her] body starting from [her] head, right as they put their hands on [her] head." Whenever she starts to doubt, she thinks of that and knows she cannot deny it. We have been praying for her and fasting and hoping we can see her this week. Good news: Wendy was was able to see some blessings from Heavenly Father, like getting a new job and things working out for her financially. I think having that experience where she met us, then everything going wrong, then her staying strong proved her faith, and now she is seeing some blessings from it.

I also had a little miracle this past week, we were going through investigators and deciding if we should drop them, and I came across Annie's record. We decided to call her up, our last hope at seeing her and she picks up! I was able to talk to her and find out that she has been waiting for us to call her, that she found some work and has been busy a lot, that she misses us and wants to start meeting with us and go to church again, and that she has been telling everyone that she is Mormon! We are still working on seeing her, but I am so grateful that again, this is NOT my work, it is so much holier and more divine than I sometimes understand. 

Love yall! Thanks for all the support and love, I really appreciate it!

Sister Baker

October 9,"The Day I Met Ya'll,My Life Started Going Crazy"

This past week we had another hurricane: Hurricane Nate, but luckily for us, it was just a small one. Because it hit nearer us than Hurricane Irma, and hurricanes are pretty unpredictable as it is, we had to go in early Saturday and church was cancelled Sunday. Besides some wind and rain, it really wasn't much of anything, so no worries there!

Wendy is still doing great, and is really looking forward to her baptism November 4th. Our most recent lesson she brought up a concern that she didn't understand why she needed to be baptized again considering that she has been baptized twice before and felt the spirit at her other baptisms. I tried explaining the priesthood but it didn't seem to click with her still. This question is a pretty common one (it's the south) but my companion and I both were still at a loss for how to better explain it so she could understand why this baptism was different than her other experiences. I asked if we could say a prayer together, which we did, I started reading in the Book of Mormon, and the spirit definitely took over and answered the question for her. Before I even finished reading and explaining the verses, she answered her own question. And it wasn't even what I read that answered her question, she kinda just answered it herself. 

She also started talking about how much opposition she feels from the adversary before her upcoming baptism. She said "literally the day I met y'all, my life started going crazy." Wendy and her family are going through a lot right now, and I asked the question "Leading up to your other baptisms, did you ever feel this much opposition?" She thoughtfully pondered for a second, then turned to me, and said "No, honestly, I cannot remember there being this much of a struggle before my other baptisms. Well, I guess that answers that question." She can definitely tell that Satan is working hard on her but she seems determined to follow God through it all. We are so grateful that the spirit was there for that lesson and was able to teach Wendy when my companion and I could only so inadequately attempt to help her understand. 

I love my companion, I am so grateful I get to end with Sister Boyce! We are trying to soak it all up while we can together! 

Love yall!

Sister Baker

Pictures:

a HUGE grasshopper we found

I may look happy but inwardly I was screaming

Cheyanne, Wendy's daughter/ one of my favorite people

movie "night" with Tristan, our investigator

October 2,"I Want To Be A Mormon So Bad"

You know it was a good week when your companion turns to you and asks "Is this the happiness they talk about, I am so happy right now." That pretty much sums up our week. 

Tristan is doing so well. We had another lesson with her with the Perry's (her grandmother is a member of the church) and her best friend (who also happens to be a member). Basically Tristan has the best support group in the world and they are all so excited to see her progress. We talked a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ with her and what that would mean in her life. Looking around and seeing her family and friends bear testimony of the power behind that was pretty powerful. 

Wendy is doing AMAZING! Honestly so happy for her right now. We watched the last session of conference with her, her daughter Cheyanne, and their friend Ella at the Welty's house and there was such a strong spirit there, seeing them all interact. After conference, Bishop Welty met with Wendy one on one and talked about some of the struggles she has been going through recently. We had to leave early but then later that evening Wendy called us, close to tears. Essentially she said repeatedly how truly happy she is and that leaving Bishop Welty's office, she felt so relieved and grateful. She talked about the changes she has seen in her daughter Cheyanne and how happy and excited the gospel is making her and how it is truly blessing their family. And then if that wasn't enough, she ended with saying "I know it is true. I know it. People may say what they want to me about it, but I know it is true." And just like that, I died. SO overfilled with joy. Wendy is looking forward to her baptismal date November 4th, and telling her family and friends all about the church and how they should come and check it out. 

General Conference has once again reminded me that God knows His children. And as much as I think I know, I come to quickly realize I know so very little, He is in the work, He is in the details. He knows His children. 

Love y'all!

Sister Baker

Pictures:

service project at the Weingartners with Cheyanne. When you notice the GIGANTIC spider!

one of the sessions we watched with the Cass family and their two cute kids

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