Le-go and move forward 12/29/2014

Christmas was a very splendid day of gift giving and receiving.

I want to say how thankful I am for the gifts I've received from those I love dearly and those whom I probably met but completely forgotten their names. Still thankful for them though.

We had a wonderful time getting to spend time with some families here in Allen. I loved getting to talk to my family through Face Time and getting to express my love for them through video with no time delay :) Some of the things I got from the Allen 1st Ward: Legos and a Texas flag pillow case. Though that doesn't compare to the spirit I felt as we read with others the story of Jesus Christ's birth. Lots of people get caught up in the gift giving and the trees and the decorations but I loved most of all was truly understanding the importance of Jesus Christ and how he was a gift of love for all of us.

Also had some hard opposition this week while Sister Ricks and I were proselyting. Met a few people who were not very happy with the existence of Joseph Smith and they told us very bluntly, oh and that we were brain washed as well (rolls eyes and sighs deeply). Yeah, they think I didn't choose for myself to be giving up 18 months of time and dedication to be here (face palm). It saddened my heart to hear this and that they wouldn't try to understand but it did not stop me, in fact, I will never let it stop me. My testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ has never been more positive and sure. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible because it really has helped me understand what my role is in this life and the awesome future ahead for me and EVERYONE!

I'm hope that with a new year approaching that we can all shake off the things that are weighing us down and be able to start fresh and begin to create a more better you, because I know that's something I greatly desire for myself. May the New Year be with you to brighten your life. 

Loving to set goals, Sister Baker

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Oh this has been a joyous month of sharing the message of Jesus Christ's birth with everyone I meet.

How wonderful it is to know that we all had been given many gifts in our lives but that the one gift that was given to us through much love was the gift of The Savior Jesus Christ.

The "He Is The Gift" video has been a real smash here in Texas. Also, a new video came out featuring the MISSIONARIES OF THE TEXAS DALLAS MISSION:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNuP6D9DQVg

Enjoy! (Sister Baker can be seen from 4:54-5:02)

I want to share my testimony that I know He LIVES. I know that Heavenly Father loves us so much He sent His Son, for me and for you. That by the Redeemer and through him and of him we get to have peace and joy in this life. I love knowing that this eternal happiness we know of can give us hope for the future and benefit those whose hearts are heavy and sorrowful. It's my prayer that we share this glorious message with all we meet whether through a greeting and warm hugs to liking it on facebook.

I love you all of you even though I have hard times showing it, I really do love all of you...alphabetically (Grinch voice)
Love,
love,
love,
double love,

LOVE ENTIRELY!

I'll Stay Where you Want Me To Stay 12/15/14

I'm staying in the Allen 1st Ward area in Allen. Neither Sister Ricks or I got transferred.

On another cheery note- it's almost Christmas!  And in the words of some famous singer: "So this is Christmas and what have you done?"

Well I have done a bit this week. Tuesday we watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas with a elderly woman who is investigating the church. Her husband passed away last year and I was prompted to invite her to watch the video with us at a member's home. She loved watching it and said 'it was well made' along with many other positive things about it like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Jimmy Stewart. Yet, it seemed like she thought nothing more about it, which is why she is a constant joy to teach :[ 

She is firmly planted in her faith and is still only curious about learning. But I love her with every part of my soul and I'm beginning to understand "patience is a virtue".  We let her talk a while after that and eventually she asked us what our plans were for Christmas. We said we didn't have any yet, and that surprised her. She was like "What? You? You sisters always say you have an appointment every day of the week, but not on Christmas?" SO she said, "Well if you don't have anyone feeding you, you can have dinner with me, but if any of your 'church people' invite you over, just so ya know, I'm punting you over to them"(she has a Minnesota accent :P)  So I was like(in my mind) "WE ARE SPENDING CHRISTMAS WITH YOU IF ITS THE LAST THING WE DO". I ain't hav'in none of this "I'll spend it with my pets(she has 4), I'll be fine."  NOPE! I'm pretty sure she is why Sister Ricks and I are staying for 7 more weeks.

I'll keep you posted about her.

 

So normally I don't talk about negative experiences but this one I feel prompted to share.

Saturday, 2 people got angry at us. We were trying to reach a member that was in our ward directory but that we had never me,t so we knocked on the door and a lady opened up and we introduced ourselves and after we said 'latter day saints' she said 'not interested' and tried to shut the door which is a common response. I said "Wait, we're looking for Thomas" and she opened up the door said something along the lines of< "He's either dead or doesn't live here" and then shut the door.

So we brushed it off and decided he definitely didn't live there anymore. So we returned to the car (a return missionary was driving us around that night) and we were just deciding where we were going next, when an old man came to the driver's door.  We rolled down the window and he went off on us. He said "you Mormons are sick going through a person's mail and deciding 'oh we'll make a Mormon out of this man', whose dead, and I hope you feel bad about yourselves!" Plus much more. Yeah, we couldn't get a word in and we just pulled away very quickly once he left. Afterwards we joked a little about the hostility we had because it wasn't our fault that man accused us of things that we don't do. If he had been willing to listen, or even waned to know what it is that we were doing, he would of found out that the man we were looking for was already a member anyway and that we NEVER make anyone do anything that they don't want to do.

 

That's something else that I love about the Truths that we share. It's all our choice. Its always been about our choice. If we didn't have agency we would have never have been able to choose to come to earth.  If we didn't get to choose to make mistakes and good decisions we would never progress and then life would be meaningless. Think of how many people don't know that. That's crazy! We need to let everyone know what amazing joys we have and choose to share those with others.

 

So we need to share the gift of the Truth of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ with those around us because “You never know. You never know whether you do any good. You never know how much good you do.” So do it!

 

I'm thankful for everyone that made a choices that helped me get where I am now.  Thanks to all of you for choosing to be amazing :)

Loving to choose,

 Sister Baker

 

Loving to choose, Sister Baker

I'M SIIIINGIIIIINNG IM IN A STORE AND IM SIINGIIIIIIING12/8/2014

This week was filled with fun and singing.  The missionaries in my zone got together and we went caroling in my area and in the Allen 6th area. We had a blast spending time together and merrily singing Christmas hymns. Many people were really receptive to us caroling and it seemed to brighten their eyes. Although one lady just came up to the door (it was glass) looked at us, shook her head while held up her hands, giving the impression of Seriously? Caroling? Right now?  Who are you people?' Then she walked away from the door to sit and watch TV. As she walked away we cheerfully sang and at a volume higher then we normally would so she would for sure hear us.

The Allen Nativity Exhibit was held at our church building and. It was amazing, all those nativities, some unique and foreign others not so much.  They were set up so beautifully and it was an uplifting sight. Sister Ricks and I sang Silent Night with a few other Sister Missionaries at the Nativity morning and that was pretty fun. Then there were many great performances during the rest of that day and then as well. My favorite was this Baptist Choir that came and sang a few songs and they were great!  It felt like I was in the movie 'The Fighting Temptations'. There were a ton of 'hallelujahs' and a whole lot of 'Thank you Jesus'. I couldn't stop smiling along with a few laughs here and there at the silly yet spiritual performance they gave. A member summed it up that it felt good to listen to but that it's still like "stadium faith"-like that feeling you get when your at a sports stadium and your all rooting for a certain team. I felt a little sad that if only they knew what Truths we have to share, then it would really bring that happiness to them that they felt when they sang, but ten times over.

Oh and I met someone that I'm related to at the nativity as well. A lady saw my name tag and introduced herself and her husband as (I cant remember their first names) Brother and Sister Empey from the Allen 3rd ward. When they said Empey I told them that is a name in my family history, that Empey is my Grandma's maiden name. So I asked if I could get my fan chart (which I always carry with me) and WHAT DO YOU KNOW we're related :D His Great-Grandpa is my Great-Great-Grandpa, Ephraim Shadrach Empey. So that was awesome. Definately one of my high lights for the week.

It turns out that Sister Rick's old Ward Missionary Leader is the illustrator for the Fablehaven Books and I got to meet him! He and his family had just walked into the Nativity right as we were about to leave. I got to shake his hand and get some great tips about becoming an illustrator, which is what I'm thinking about doing when I go back to BYU-I. Bonus he went there too and told me about the teachers he had and I 1000% know what classes I'm going to take now.

I love you all!  I hope you enjoyed the He Is The Gift video and are thinking of ways to share the gift with others

Bye!

Casey (behind me) is a member, a recent Convert, who is the best person ever for awesomeness. She got us the Christmas tree

A Side Note from The Mom

This is a photo sent to this morning from Sister Lemon in Allen, Texas, who was kind enough to send this along with a message that Sister Baker is darling and doing good things!

Sister Baker also sent along a letter, apologizing again for not being super detail oriented in her information output, but promises to keep trying.  She said, "I'm aware of how much I leave out at times and I'm trying to be better, but luckily I don't have to be perfect yet.  'Just be perfect at trying'." (Meet the Mormons)

Her Christmas gift wish list:
-a simple but nice headband
-any music that is uplifting, testifies of Christ and invites the Spirit, like the piano music played at home on Sundays.
-more music
-for everyone to put up a story on familysearch.org (if you already have, be sure to send her a link so she can read it, she doesn't have time to search on P-Days)
-"I would actually love to hear stories of mission experiences of those in our family who have served a mission."

Patchwork Chloe 12/1/2014

DO IT- GO SHARE THE GIFT! 

THE GIFT IS AMAZING I LOVE THE GIFT! ITS CHANGED MY LIFE AND PRETTY SURE IT HAS CHANGED YOURS WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT! 

WHAT IS THE GIFT YOU ASK?

GO HERE: Christmas.mormon.org

GO GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO

And MERRY CHRISTMAS! HOPE Y'ALL ENJOY THE FIRST GIFT OF CHRISTMAS!! 

SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE!!!

So yes I realize how little detail i put about getting stitches and how big a deal they are. So here are more details. I got stitches on my chin no where else. it was on the side walk no cars were involved. They are out now and I got a really nice scar from it.

and the actual stitches

Bonus: