6 MONTHS WHA WHA WHA!!! -WEEK 26

SOO CRAZY BUT THIS THURSDAY IS MY 6 MONTH MARK IN THE FIELD!!!  And like my friend, Elder Pothier was saying the language really starts to set like in, in about 6 months... ya well he had a 4.0 gpa in high school I'm just a little bit slower than he is hahaha!!  It's kinda been freakin me out cause all the teachers at the mtc said ya, you'll be fluent in 6 months for sure!!!  I wouldn't say I'm fluent.. but I would say that I'm comfortable.. hahaha  I can teach a lesson and kinda hold a conversation with people, but I can never understand what they're fully saying hahaha!!  Especially when they tell like a 5 minute story.  I'm like uhhh ya, you lost me after the first 30 seconds haha!!  But it's totally fine, cause the reason I'm here is to teach people about the gospel, and I can say pretty much anything I want about the gospel!!  I've got the gospel language down.  Now it's time to become a true pure bred filipino!! 

So quick update on investigators.  Our work out here in mobo a mabate area hehe!! So the family of investigators is AMAZING HAHAHA I love them!! So yesterday at church we had a fifth sunday lesson and watched the Philippines area broadcast and then talked about it!!  But then after we were like done with the lesson, the branch president was like so does anyone have any questions for us or for the branch!?  And the mom stands up and says I have a question... when is our baptism?? hahahahaha!!  Then the whole branch looks at me hahaha I'm like February 20th!  So yeah!!  She's definitely excited to get baptised!!  And with her family... her niece is gonna get baptised to!!  And that same day we have 2 other baptisms!!  So in total, 8 baptisms on one day!!!  What better way to celebrate my 6 month mark, than by having a family of 6 be baptized!!! 

So this whole last week it seems like everything has been about missionary work... but not "MISSIONARY" work MEMBER missionary work!!  And I just remembered one of my favorite songs now.  It's "I Will Not Be Still" by Kenneth Cope!  I encourage all members to go listen to that song and then think about the blessings of the gospel in your life or your family's life... then here's the "hard" part.  Go out and SHARE the gospel!!!  If you're too scared to share by yourself, go out with missionaries!!  Then all you have to do is bear your testimony!!  And just a reminder, it doesn't matter how old you are, anyone can work with the missionaries!!  

mahal na mahal po kayo!! 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

Sister Delgado got transferred to Masbate!!

They met and found out they know some of the 

same people....Dillon's cousin, Caitlin was her roomate at BYU!

 Mom woke up one morning, to friend requests

on FACEBOOK!  And lot's and lot's of

PICTURES of our cute Elder!  We love the 

sweet members in Masbate who love the missionaries❤

How can I keep this gift to myself

When I can lift somebody else.

I'll be a witness of his miracles and his mercy.

I put my future in his hands,

Knowing he's made me all I am.

When I put my faith in him the truth begins to speak,

His power is real it moves me until I will not be STILL.

                                           --Kenneth Cope

LIVIN THE PINOY LIFE!! -WEEK 25

So we had transfers this last week and it was really sad because the two other elders in our apartment got transferred!! The sad part is that they both spoke English!!  And now the 3 other people in my house are pure filipino!  And don't speak English... LIKE AT ALL!!! HAHAHAHHAHA it's wayy cool tho I was thinking about it and I'm like... holy crap I'm in the ppines, living in a house with 3 other filipinos!! And speaking a different language 24/7!! hahahhaha 

I LOVE IT!!!!

So these last 2 weeks have been great with this new family we got!!  They've attended church the last  2 weeks!  And they love the gospel!!  Everything we teach them, like the word of wisdom, and tithing, and law of chastity, they think is great!!  And they're like, why doesn't our religion have that?!! haahhaha they're the best!!!  And not only do they love to listen... THEY LOVE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL!!  They give us referrals and introduce us to their friends around their houses!!  So now we have a ton of investigators by her house!!  And a lot attend church!!  This last week we had 12 investigators attend church!!!  WHAT!?!?  That just doesn't happen out here in the Legazpi mission hahahha!!  But I'm lovin it!!  This branch/ area is PROGRESSING FOR SURE!!!  Maybe when I come back after my mission it will be a ward!!!  (p.s. mom and dad better start saving for me to come back!) 

I LOVE YOU ALL!

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

Search, Ponder and Pray
Are the things that I must do.
The spirit will guide, and deep inside,
I'll know the scriptures are true.

FAMILY BAPTISM??? -WEEK 24

SO THIS WEEK WAS A GREAT BLESSING!!  Everyone always says after hard times comes the blessings!!  And that was sooo true with this last week!!  I had one of the worst weeks of my whole mission!!  Everything was just hard with the people rejecting us!!  And then it all turned around when we got a referral for a family!! So we immediately tried contacting them!!  All we had was a name and a general place so we asked around and the lady we asked if she knew them, walked us over there and then stayed and listened to the lesson!!!  Well, it turned out they both were interested in our message!!  So they both wanted us to come back the next day!!  So we did, and the next day we taught both of the people in different lessons but with their whole families!!  And one invited her friend!!!  Well, one of the families is gone every Saturday and Sunday, so they couldn't attend church, but the other family ALLL SHOWED UP!!  It was funny cause they came in late during one of the speakers!! (they were only like 10 minutes late, but we are done with the sacrament 10 minutes in!!) but, so they all came in and the whole branch is like what the heck who is this!?  And then immediately members were getting out of their seats to go sit next to the family members and fellowship them, soo that was great!! 

Another cool thing is this last week I realized how much I think in Tagalog!!  Like it's the weirest thing whenever I'm walking around all my thoughts are in Tagalog!!  And the other day in a lesson an investigator asked me to pray in English... lets just say my biggest fear now is praying in English!!  It's one of the hardest things for me to do!!  I realized when I was praying in English, I think of what I want to say in Tagalog and then say it in English!! 

I LOVE THIS MISSION!!   I think it's crazy how much I've grown up in just a short couple months and I'm so excited to see how much I can grow!!  And I just think it's straight up cool how I think, speak, and dream in a different language!!  

ONE QUICK LAST THING!!  My momma just said to me she said, you have been blessed and now your giving back for those blessings!!  And I was thinking about my experience with the hard times and now the blessings... and I need to remember to be thanklful for all those blessings!! But I just want to give everyone else a helpful reminder to always thank our Heavenly Father for blessings!!  There's a scripture somewhere in D&C that says when you recieve everything with thankfulness you will receive ten fold!!  And I know that to be true!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL AND JUST REMEMBER HAKUNA MATATA!! HEHE ;)

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

 I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE'S RIDING HERE,

JUST GLAD TO KNOW HE GOT OFF ALIVE!

  SLIMY...... YET SATISFYING!

 I THINK ELDER BAKER IS REALLY GOING TO MISS HIS SIDEKICK, MJ

 

  

I thank thee, dear Father in heaven above,

For thy goodness and mercy, thy kindness and love.

I thank thee for home, friends, and parents so dear,

And for ev'ry blessing that I enjoy here.

BUNYAG!! (baptism in masbateno) -WEEK 23

Here's a short, but awesome email from Elder Baker!  He actually emailed me back real quick and said oops he didn't mean to send it yet and was finishing it up, but then was gone.......and I didn't hear another word!  SO, here's the exciting news from Masbate this week!!  (we did get some cute pictures though!)        Masbateno = a different dialect in the Philippines than Tagalog.    

Hello family and friends!

So this week was a busy week.  We got back from training in Legazpi Thursday morning at 3:00 in the morning!  And then we got up at 6:30 and went to work!!  We only had a short week here in mobo area but we still got a BAPTISM!!  And I got to baptize her!! 

Sad news.  We had 3 baptisms lined up for January 23rd and the 2 girls that had been our investigators for 3 months and have been attending church were finally gonna be baptized... then the mom flipped on me yesterday!   She started yelling at me about how they are born again and she didn't want us there anymore.  So ya, only one baptism now on the 23rd!!  And then we should have 2 part member baptisms coming up!!  So it's really exciting the next couple weeks!! 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

MJ got his mission call!!!  

He's going to the Philippines, Cagyan De Oro Mission

Reporting on January 29, 2015!

We know he will be such a good missionary

and can't wait to hear about his experiences.

The small boat they rode over to Legazpi on! 

 Elder Baker with his new companion and his Mission Presidents

 Another Elder in the apartment bought a sauna suit, haha!

BAPTISM! 

Nothing better! 

future missionaries 

random food in their apartment!

looks like someone like M&M's : )

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the BEST I can and live with God again!

2016 A FULL YEAR OF BEING A MISSIONARY! -WEEK 22

Well this is gonna be a crazy good year.  I will be a dedicted missionary for 365 days straight!!    NO OFF DAYS!!  NO SICK DAYS!!  NO PLAY!  JUST WORK!!  (maybe a lil play!)

But for real I'm sooo excited for this year!!  I can see how I'm changing peoples lives for the better!!  And it's the best feeling ever!!  Speaking of people changing their lives, we have one baptism this Wednesday!!  And then we also have this investigator that will be baptised soon, and he's hilarious!  When he talks about the church he says "our" church hahhaha!!

Training update: well training is always difficult and I was thinking this last week about why I got chosen as a trainer and I thought about what my President would say to me if I wanted to quit!  He'd say "well Elder I know this is what the Lord knows you're capable of doing, cause this calling wasn't from me.  It was from God!  But if you don't think you can handle it, you can just give up.."   Maybe not that harsh but that's how I put in my head to push me hahaha!!

I just want everyone to remember the promise in 1 Nephi 3:7!  About how the Lord prepares a way for us to accomplish ALL COMMANDMENTS!!  Then also a couple verses later in verse 15 Nephi says " I won't go down to the tent of my father until I have accomplished the commandment!!  Something like that.  But I apply it to my life, cause I'm not going to return home until I have brought all the people I'm supposed to bring the gospel!! 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

 Elder Baker's new Companion

 Elder Baker with his companion and MJ - MJ is waiting for his call( it's in the mailroom today!)

The two companionships in the house now!

The Lord gives us commandments and asks us to obey.

Sometimes I am temped to choose another way.

When I'm discouraged, and think I cannot try,

I will be courageous, and I will reply:

I WILL GO; I WILL DO

THE THING THE LORD COMMANDS.

I KNOW THE LORD PROVIDES A WAY;

HE WANTS ME TO OBEY.

I WILL GO; I WILL DO

THE THING THE LORD COMMANDS.

I KNOW THE LORD PROVIDES A WAY;

HE WANTS ME TO OBEY.