Patience is a Virtue 10/27/2015

I had some difficult times this past week trying to make sure I make every second count on my mission, but it led to a lot of dissatisfaction and stress. By Sunday I was feeling pretty low, but during a Young Women's lesson that we sat in on, the teacher went over the differences between patience and impatience. Everything listed under impatience was exactly what I was feeling. That helped me understand that even with what little time I have left that doesn't mean I have to be rushing everywhere. Which reminded me of something one of my past companions told me. "Jesus didn't run everywhere he went, he walked." I learned the importance of patience and relying on the Savior to fill in the gaps that are impossible for us to fill. Jesus Christ helps when we're trying our best. I'm glad I learned that lesson and learned it during my mission. Better late than never.

Working with the members has been great as well. We invited our new investigator to be baptized and he accepted! The members that are his friends have been very helpful and supportive of him. We're still nailing down the exact information of when his baptism will be but we are looking forward to helping him come unto Christ. Our investigator and his fellow-shippers actually attended the Plano 1st Elder's baptism which was an amazing experience because it was in both Chinese and English. You could feel the Spirit there as testimonies were born
in 2 languages.

I pray that I can use my time as wisely as I can and I know what the Lord would have me do to be a blessing to others and not a burden. I'm grateful for the Gospel and I know that it blesses lives.

Constantly loving to serve,
Sister Baker

Helped out with Activity Days in one of the Wards and it was a lot of
fun. The girls were hilarious.

My desk

Brad and Holly received this:

"Loved having your sweet missionary in our home for dinner"

Wonderful

From time to time wonderful people feed our Sister Baker and sent us a text with a photo of her included.  Here is the most recent...

Last stop- Plano, Texas

I've been called to serve in Plano, Texas for this next 6-5 weeks. I'm going to be back-up training Sister McBride! She is a beautiful new missionary and I get the privilege of finish training her this transfer. We're also going to be covering the missioinary work over 3 wards! AND GUESS WHAT ONE OF MY BISHOPS' NAMES IS.......BAKER! Bishop Baker fully enjoyed getting to announce my name yesterday at Sacrament Meeting. Though he wo'nt replace my favorite Bishop back home :)

We actually gained a new investigator yesterday at a "Sundaes on Sunday" event after church. His name is AJ and he is getting ready to marry a member in the 4th ward. When he came up to us he had a Book of Mormon in his hands and we actually thought he was a member. Thankfully his soon to be mother-in-law told us that he was ready to take the discussions. We were over joyed to see the faith this man has in learning the gospel and having joy in his family and in the future.

Fun story, by happy happenstance I got to see an old Texas Dallas missionary, Sister Carlson. I had the privilege to serve around her back in Allen. She was a huge example for me of being a great missionary when she was on her mission and even after. She's been home for 9 months, so when I saw her walk past me in the church hall way all I could get out was "HEY!" and she turned and we both smiled and hugged and chat about how she was doing. She and her family were visiting Texas and visiting the members that she befriended during her mission and one of the areas she served in was Plano.  I told her I was in my last transfer and I asked if she had any advice and she told me to work hard and enjoy my mission. That was just what I needed to hear.  She also said that it was okay to be happy about going home, which was also something I needed to hear!

God really sends us the opportunities to receive what we pray for and what we need to keep going. It's up to us to seize those opportunities and usually they come when we are "anxiously engaged in a good cause"- Doctrine and Covenants 58:27-28 (my Ponderize scripture for the week)

Remember the invitations given to us in General Conference will help us in whatever we are facing and going through. The promises given come from our loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, so you can always be confident that you will be rewarded for your righteous actions.

Enjoying to serve, 

Sister Baker

Got to go chalking!  Sister McBride chose the quote and I chalked it. It was very therapeutic!

The Last Transfer 10/12/15

I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED. Hard to believe but I'll be going to a new area tomorrow and have no clue where. I know that where ever I go it is where God wants me.

This past week was exciting because we had a baptism for a Spanish speaking investigator, Jose. He is a strong child of God in his understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his willingness to learn more. It was a small turn out for the baptism but that didn't matter. He was smiling the whole time.

All I know is that I'm going to work my hardest this last transfer so I can help as many people as I can to find the thing that leads to eternal happiness in this life and beyond, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love being a missionary, I've never been happier and I've never been more tired.

I just want to testify that I know at it is worth the struggle to share the gospel and bring out the light in others because it brings ridiculous amounts of peace and happiness to all how accept and live it. I'm glad God sent his helpers to inspire me and invite me to serve a mission.

Serving has been the best choice to change my life for the good, and the lives of countless other people.

Loving to serve always,

 Sister Baker

You can guess who is Jose

 Got to have zone meeting at e stake presidents house which is huge and has gospel art everywhere

Tex Says "Hi!" 10/5/2015

Dear Family And Friends,

General Conference was great we watched it at the church for all 4
sessions and we had an investigator come to two of the sessions! I
loved getting to hear from my first mission president, President
Durrant. I learned about ponderizing at the beginning of my mission
and it's been a while since I've heard it brought back up again :)

So the reason why my email didn;t get sent until the end of the day was because I was at the TEXAS STATE FAIR! I loved getting to go with my district and a few missionaries from my zone and it was fun! I had some deep fried
Oreos and they were actually good. THEY CAN DEEP FRY ANYTHING HERE.

Sister Baker

Tex says Hi!

Fun Times 9/28/2015

I think I'm getting better at understanding Spanish, surely but very slowly.  Sometimes I feel like I'm in the movie Nacho Libre. Its a lot of fun.

Sorry to keep this short my iPad is still not working so we are at the library at the SMU campus right now trying to see if the computer will recognize my iPad it but no luck. 

Anyway i'm going to share the highlights of my week through some pictures because I can finally upload the ones from my handheld camera.

this is Lilly a recent convert. we visited her at where she works

she made some Elote for me, esta rico!

and I still cant get over the sky over here