Sulu and Scotty at Sister Stinson's

More from Sister Stinson's house-our favorite homebound member in the ward who lived it when we cam and shared a message with her!

Sulu and Scotty are my favorite

cute chameleon food

Oh there is no hiding khan...no hiding

My desk is on the right...

Sowing Seeds

The ward mission leader and ward missionaries have set up a plan on how to help the members Serve, Befriend, and Extend invitations. The growth begins when a seed in planned which comes from showing our faith. The seed grows in good soil which is how we can serve them. The plant is nourished by water which is opportunities to be surrounded by the Spirit, like going to someone's baptism, or to a church activity. Then they continue to grow with the help of the missionaries which is sunshine.

Its been getting to the normal temperatures here the high 90's to low 100's. Greatful for air-conditioning.

Sister Wyss is AWESOME. Turns out she is from Murry. Its a small world after all.

Met a nice less active member whose two children are amazing. Still trying to nail down their names but they are adorable. You'll see why in the pictures below.

I love you all I love your letters and Emails and packages. Thank you for all that you do. Have a good week I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOOOOU.

Loving to sow, Sister Baker

Growing Every Day 8/18/2014

Saturday night Sister Stumm and I got the dreaded call. Transfers.

I'm staying! Sister Stumm is going to Rowlett! 

In Garland 3rd Ward, efforts are continuing to grow in missionary work towards what members can do to get referrals. We are comparing it to planting a seed. The seed is the example we set for others, the rest was perfect in applying the missionary work to members. Or something I've been thinking about using to sum it up: Serve, Befriend, Extend. Serve your neighbor, befriend them, extend an invitation to an activity or church. I hope that Sister Wyss, whom I am thrilled to meet, can help me in proposing this idea and work out the kinks to any problems or questions the members might have.
 
We have been meeting with families and members in quick 15 minute lessons and explaining the "We Are One" vision. I feel like I'm starting to get used to remembering member's names and remembering things about them. They are even becoming friendlier every time we see them. So far we have gained many insights and even been able to help a few members with challenges they face with their missionary opportunities.

It's been hard creating an environment of hope for some of those that we visit because of each person's circumstances. It's hard when the only thing we can do for them is pray. Yet, I know the blessings that come from it and I know it will help them with the things they face. My prayers have never been so long in my life, I pray for many of those we teach and some I've never met that other missionaries need help with. The power of pray is a gift we all carry and I've never been more thankful for it than right now.

I'm looking forward to meeting my new companion Sister Wyss and facing the new challenges and experiences in the future that will help me grow. Good things ARE coming.

Loving to grow, Sister Baker

Gnome Sweet Gnome 8/11/14

My area is catching the spirit of the message of "We Are One". Once or twice a week, Sister Stumm and I get the opportunity to visit member families in the ward and our focus is sharing the "We Are One" video and telling them more about what we can to help catch that vision for themselves. More importantly we also have been showing them the 'Dayton's Legs' Mormon message and asking them how they can apply it to themselves. We have been inviting them to simply pray for missionary opportunities and we plan to follow up with them a week later. 

As for how I am doing, I am still struggling to remember what needs to be accomplished next in my mind set. I'm starting to form the habit of what or who is next on the schedule that we need to take care of next, but I'm still slow to remember. I'm trying to write things down more before I forget and it has been helping. I'm becoming more confident in contacting people without hesitating or second guessing myself, I know that the Spirit will always reside with me as long as I open my mouth. I 'm nervous about transfers coming up, but I'm willing to work with whatever I get faced with.

Loving the work, Sister Baker

Shout out to everyone who has written me:

THANKS FOR YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT!

I really LOVE to hear from y'all! I wish I had more time to write you individually. I'll try but no promises :)

Gnomes, man  they're everywhere!

The skies here, the pictures don't do it justice

The week in review

Over the past week:
The Garland 3rd ward is showing more effort in supporting us in giving referrals. The ward missionaries are really thinking deeply as to how to help the members of the ward ask and invite their friends to come to church and other church activities. They taught the 'We are One' message by President Eyring specifically to help us out. They are really warming up to us. We had all of the ward missionaries present at our last meeting for the first time and it was an amazing experience.

I feel like Sister Stumm is definitely continuing in helping me contact everyone I see and not be afraid of what I will say before hand. I'm grateful for the experiences I've gained from being her companion so far. I'm still lagging in trying to connect with members and not just remember there names, that is something I have been struggling with for a while. I hope to be able to communicate better with them and be genuine about it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Loving the work, Sister Baker

This awesome lady in our ward has a chameleon business and this is in her house. ITS SO AMAZING

"The Mormons Are Here" 7/28/2014

We are teaching a woman and her daughter the discussions and last Monday when we knocked on her door the first thing we hear is feet coming to the door and then feet scurrying away with a loud "The Mormons are here! The Mormons are here!"

This family is interesting. The mom is such a people pleaser that she doesn't know what she believes. When we talked with her about the Plan of Salvation she would contradict herself about where she thinks we go after this life, probably having to do with her mom and what she was told to believe growing up. Then when her husband comes in from work the mom gets quiet and gets shy again. She doesn't want to "put anything on him" so she doesn't invite him to sit with us. Then when I asked her if she would give a closing prayer, she did so, in her head. Then after we asked her why, she would say, "I don't want to ask for things that everybody else didn't need or want to hear". *sigh*

Her daughter is different. Sophia is an amazing girl; she is actually our focus. The family has had missionaries over before and each time our records say that Sophia was the one contributing the most to the lessons. She's only 10 and her prayer at the end of our second lesson was in tears. She is strong in her thoughts and in feeling the Spirit.  We hope these lessons, if they continue, will help Sophia in the future to draw back on the memories of the Missionaries and how she felt about the things they said. We hope we can at least get her a Book of Mormon to read (she loves to read), and hopefully she can continue in her journey of learning of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in one way or another. Sadly the mom canceled  today's lesson. Hopefully next week.

I love you all! You are always in my prayers and I hope that each and everyone of you know what you believe, if not I know some people that would love to teach the first Discussion to you :)

Loving the Work, Sister Baker

A Lot Of Zeros 7/21/14

This week was a challenging one. One day every single appointment and back-up fell through. It wasn't entirely bad, we got to go on an exchange with the sister trainers and that was a learning experience.

Yesterday, a new Ward Mission Leader was called. I have never been so happy about callings then out on my mission, they are trully a blesssing to those who are given them and to the full time missionaires in the ward as well. His points that he brought up in his talk during sacrament meeting, (which he wasn't aware that he was giving a talk until that day before sacrament meeting) the points that he brought up about Missionary Work for everyone were:

-Proclaiming the gospel
-Perfecting the Saint

-Redeeming the dead

That is exactly what we should strive to focus on every day as a ward and as disciples of Christ along with being examples of Christ.

It is when we are fully converted that we gain that desire to share. Even after growing up in the church for the past 20 years and being a member for 12 of them, I know that its wasn't until I came on my mission that I was fully converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Never be afraid to testify of truth, you don't need to prove its true, just testify that you know its true.

LOVE YOU ALL, seriously I would LOVE to tell you individually but don't have the time, just know I care for and pray for you all everyday.

Loving the work, 

Sister Baker