When Ye Are In the Service...8/17/2015

This week I came tothe conclusion that service leads to happiness.  Yes
I did know that already but it was something I relearned this week.

About halfway through the week I became unmotivated while we were
planning because we were unsure which way to go with the missionary
efforts in our wards that we cover. My companion being new to the area,
and this also being her second area, was finding it difficult to help
me in my lack of motivation. Later that night, I looked back on all
the other times I ever was going through a hard time on my mission and
I realized that they all had a similar theme of me being in
"poor-me-land" as my mom has put it to me. So I needed to get the
train out of there. But I wasn't sure how? Not just to pick up my mood
but to help me regain my motivation. My companion and I continued the
week and I tried my best to have my thoughts center on the mission but
I still felt like I was missing the mark.

Then on Sunday one of our leaders in one of our Wards gave us a huge list of
Less Actives to find and meet. It was a blessing to receive this list
because it was just what we needed to distract ourselves from our rut
and to get to work. Then in Sacrament meeting right after our Ward
council meeting, someone brought up the fact that Jesus Christ put the
example forward for us to do service for others,  which
everything Jesus Christ did brought true happiness. The spirit then
hit me that that is what I need to focus on this up coming week. That
when you think outside yourself only then do you gain true joy. It
connected in my head, that's how we mere mortals do missionary work.
It's serving with all our heart, might, mind, strength, and soul
because we literally give our all when we don't think of ourselves. We
do the will of the Father when we think and act on the will of
Heavenly Father. Therefore when we are in the service of our fellow
beings we are only in the service of our God! Yes! That finally
clicked in my head! It only took my whole life and a mission to
understand, but I got it none the less!

So that was a good part of my week and I wanted to share that with y'all.

Also we helped some less active young single adults come to sacrament
meeting as week yesterday! We've met with them a few times and the
sister has a thing for animals (she works at Pet-mart). It's funny
when the sister came to church with her brother, she brought with her
one of her dogs....but hey it's still progress.

Loving Frisco and the seeing the little daily miracles and the funny moments.
I love each of you, you have no idea.

Love,

Sister Baker

A Tie or Two 8/10/2015

This week we were able to do a lot. Especially preparing for the two baptisms that we had on Saturday. We had to get everything organized, had to make sure everyone's schedules lined up, and everything was set in place so that nothing was forgotten about or would cause any problems later. Not going to lie it was a really stressful week. Both I and my companion we're doing the most we could but it still felt like we were falling behind. But with prayer and a lot of faith everything worked out. A lot of the members from the ward helped us in the setting up of the baptisms (they helped a ton) and it was great to know that we weren't in it alone. I can definitely testify that God sends his help through other people.

Andrea's baptism went great it was really touching to see how happy she was in getting baptized. Her husband, Ray, isn't a member and definitely isn't interested in becoming one anytime soon, but through meeting with them both a few times before the baptism he warmed up to us and to the church. We know that his heart is beginning to be softened from the love and the sincerity of the members that have and are befriending Andrea.

At Andrea's baptism it was really hot because the temperature outside was maybe around 106 so with the humidity it felt hotter than that. Andrea was sweating a lot mainly because she was nervous but the heat didn't help. After she was baptized she bore her testimony of how much she loves being able to feel the Spirit so much she even wished it upon everyone, non-members, members, families and kids that they get that chance or the opportunity to feel the Spirit so well and to appreciate it as much as she did the moment she stepped foot into the church. She was looking for this joy in her life for a long time and she found it.

I absolutely love the photos that you have sent me! They make me smile and I can't help but giggle when I see the pictures of Maeve and Damian. I LOVE ALL OF MY FAMILY! I'm glad all of you are having a wonderful time. I can't believe there will be 2 more added to the family. It will be exciting to see how Christmas goes this year :D  

Tell everyone I love them and that I think that they are all gorgeous. Even soba.

Love, Sister Baker

P.S. Tell Eli Jack and Alex that Auntie Chloe misses them and can't wait to play Legos with them.

Coming Together 8/3/2015

We have 2 baptisms on the 8th and we are very excited for them. The wards are coming together to help them out. In fact one of the baptisms is for a 16 year old boy named Daniel. He has only one suit and one tie. He is friends with a lot of the Young Men and they have planned to surprise Daniel at the end of the baptism to go up and each give Him the ties they are wearing! I just love the outreach the members have took to help theses baptisms come to be.

For our District meeting, all the missionary companionships had a competition to see who could memorize all of the 42 concepts in order and exact phrasing. And guess who won, Sister Klinkowski and I got the most out of everyone! And the prize was gummy worms :)

So here are all the missionaries in my District:

From left to right: Elder Orme, Elder Casperson, Elder Beus, Elder Fonua, Elder Christensen, and Elder Narviaz. Then there's me and my companion, Sister Christmas and Sister Stewart.

They are a great district and loads of fun. We should be having sports at 2:00 today so I'll send y'all the pictures!

A theme that came up a lot this week was families and how important they are. I just want to tell my family how much they mean to me. They mean more to me than I could ever tell them. I'm grateful for The Family: A Proclamation to the World and for the sure foundation it is to me and for the love I have for God. I'm grateful to be apart of His family and know that He love all of us. 

Have a miraculous week!

With Love! Sister Baker

I Can Do Hard Things 7/27/2015

So this week was filled with a lot of challenges and changes.

On Monday we got to go shopping at the mall, which was a lot of fun.  Tuesday was transfers and I get Sister Klinkowski (Klin-cow-ski) as my new companion. Then we spent the rest of the week preparing for Kaitlyn's baptism.

Saturday July 25th- Gave the talk on the Holy Ghost for both Annabelle's and Kaitlyn's baptism. That was a little hectic. But with a lot of miracles and things pulling through the baptisms went well. Sister Awerkamp got to come back for the baptism. She is companions with Sister Roboqio now in Heath and Rockwall. Alan, a great friendshipper in the YSA, who told us he wasn't going to make it, showed up right before Kaitlyn was baptized and was able to congratulate her before he left. 

Sunday July 26th- gave a talk in sacrament meeting. Kaitlyn's confirmation went well and it was a beautiful thing to witness.

So over all the change in companions was hard but I feel like it's what I needed to know that I could take over the area after Sister Awerkamp. I probably feel like a senior companion for the first time.

I know I can do all things through Christ :)

Love,

Sister Baker

Continuing my Journey in Frisco 7/20/2015

Hey everyone! This week we taught 35 lessons again. It was great. We
set 2 new baptismal dates now making a total of six baptismal dates in
our two areas that we cover. Two in the Frisco Sixth Ward and four in
the YSA ward. This Saturday we have a baptism happening for a young
single adult. Her name is Katelyn she is she has been investigating
for a few weeks now. She was originally taught by the elders in
another area. She's a graphic designer and she is a really neat
person. We are excited to have her come to the waters of baptism and
to help her gain the peace that she has been looking for in her life.

Sad news- my companion is being transferred :( 

I'm going to sorely miss her. She was probably the most fun companion I've had so far so it's kinda sad.

Another fun event that happened this week was our car got pranked. We
don't know who but we suspect that it was some of the YSA that did it
because they would be the only ones that would have time to do it.

This was a great week and I will tell you all about my new companion
this time next week.

Love, 

Sister Baker

A Change 7/13/15

This past week I dyed my hair to a lovely light brown/auburn color. I really like it now and my companion did a good job at giving it a trim as well. 

Next week we receive transfer calls so we will find out if we get transferred or not. I hope I can stay with Sister Awerkamp one more transfer because I love our companionship unity.

This week was tough on Sister Awerkamp because she was not feeling well for most of it. Sadley she doesn't normally feel her best most of the time. She has stomach problems and on Thursday Sister Awerkamp started getting really sick. She was so miserable she had a hard time getting to the car. So we went to a member in the Frisco 6th Ward who is a ER doctor and he gave us council towards how she shouldn't eat anything for the next few days. Well we got through it and she is now eating solid foods again.

We got to play Kickball with the Young Single Adults. It was all the missionaries verses the YSA aaaaaaaaand they one, but hey it was fun.

We also had interviews this week with our Mission President. Sister Awerkamp got sick again so we had our interview with President Taylor and Sister Awerkamp and gave a training on how to schedule appointments with those that we want to teach out of the love for them. Then we took it easy the rest of the weekend. On Sunday, Sister Awerkamp got a blessing from some priesthood holders in our Ward and I loved how they explained how the blessing only goes as far as the person's faith the is receiving the blessing. 

We also have a new investigator named Kaitlyn. She's a graphic designer and she has a baptismal date for July 25th. She was taught by the Frisco 2nd+3rd ward Elders for a while then they passed her off to us because she is single and in her 20's. She's really talented and funny. So now we have 3 investigators total! Things are looking great here in the Frisco 6 and YSA Ward.

I love getting to serve here and the work is moving well.

Hasta Luego

Sister Baker

35 Going on 36

Howdy everyone

This week was great! Sister Awerkamp and I planned to teach 35 lessons
this past week and we knew it would definitely be a challenge. We had
plans fall through and then other ones pick up. It was hard but we pulled
through and in the end we reached 36 lesson taught! It was a great
persevering experience but I learned that the Spirit is always there
to direct me, especially when I seek it out.

Hope y'all's 4th of July was the best. My companion and I got to see
tons of fireworks. I loved it! Texas is definitely the best place to
see fireworks at all corners of the horizon. It was great.

Well I love all of you and I hope you continue to have good times and
missionary experiences.

Love, 
Sister Baker