MAGAYON NA WEEK! -WEEK 78

Well it's been another week! 7 days closer to coming home! haha time is FLYING!
Well I'll let you guys know about how my GREAT WEEK went! So this last week we've been out teaching our new investigators that we have found this last few weeks.  So one of the ones we've been working with is Felipe Siapno!  He is doing soo good right now he's progressing soo much! He hasn't had a problem with the word of wisdom since we've been teaching him, the only sad thing is he didn't get out to church this week because he wasn't showered and ready to go when the member came to pick him up.. he has to have a member get him because he had a stroke and he can't really walk at all... but he really wants to go to church even tho he lives far away! So the next investigator is Melody Palacio.  We weren't so sure she was really interested cause she kinda didn't really listen to the first lesson, but we taught our 3rd lesson on Wednesday to her and she was like talking about Josephs Smith's experience and stuff and was like super interested so it was super cool to see her being interested in Joseph Smith and we introduced the Book of Mormon and she was excited to start reading! We'll see how her reading has been going tomorrow! Another one is a NEW investigator we started teaching! So last transfer about 2 months ago we met this guy on the side of the road ...drunk... so he told us that he had studied about Joseph Smith back in the day when he was in college to become a pastor (I guess they talk about us in their schools hehe) but he actually wanted to know about Joseph Smith FROM US! So he told us to come back and if we see him outside to talk to him so up until now we never have seen him outside his house and when we tried to ask his family if he was home they got mad at us... so we waited till we saw him again then on Tuesday we ran into him sitting outside in his hammock! We walked up and he said "you have anything I can read? Like the Book of Mormon" hahaha I was like of course we do haha so we went and sat down with him and taught him a little about the restoration and about the Book of Mormon and how he can know Joseph Smith was a true prophet by reading and praying about it and he says "I guarantee you next time you come by here you'll see me here reading this book" haha I was thrilled to hear that, just didn't know if it would be true! haha Well the next day we drove past him on a tricy to go straight to our other investigator and as I drove by, he saw me and lifts his Book of Mormon high in the air and just gives me a little wink with a look that said... "I told you" hahaha so he is great, but sadly he hasn't been outside when we went back so we didn't teach him again yet!

But crazy thing happened this Sunday. So 2 transfers ago or like 2 months ago also I talked to a tricy driver about our message and told him he should try to come to church and he told me he had always wanted to try "church at the mormons" haha so we told him the time and where at... well he never came then we switched time at New Years and never informed him then I saw him while we were buying a chicken and started talking to him and he says I went to your church last week and no one was there... so I left... hahaha turns out he showed up at while everyone was in sacrament in the other ward.  So I told him the new time of our sacrament and told him to make sure he was there on time so we could wait for him and he said he would come on time this time!  WELLL we showed up at the church a little late cause we went by one of our investigators to come to church and he's sitting outside the front door haha and we talked to him, turns out he was there over an hour early hahaha! Well he had a good first experience and we set a time that we could teach him at the church cause we can't teach him at his house he said... I don't know why...
BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF MY COOL EXPERIENCES THIS WEEK!!

OHH HEYYY GUESS WHAT!!?!     I'M IN A TRIO RIGHT NOW HAHHA just for this last week of the transfer... one of they guys got emergency transfered out of the other area that lives with us so now we are in a trio working in 2 different wards! so we'll see what happens this week! It should be FUNN!!
Next week is transfers too we'll see what happens if I'm still here in guino...even tho I'm like POSITIVE I'm still gonna be here hahahaha Elder Ayson will probably be heading out!! But I'M EXCITED FOR WHATEVER!!! 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

GUINOBATAN WEEK #16 UPDATE! -WEEK 77

WOAHH that sounds soo weird I’ve been here in guino for 16 weeks now! haha Reminds me of being in mobo forever! haha I think I still might be going another 6 weeks after this transfer in 2 weeks! But I’m excited for another 6 weeks out here!! But we’ll see what happens!! 

So this week was a pretty slow week (slow as in not many lessons but very fast in time!) We didn’t get out to work until Wednesday afternoon, because I still wasn’t feeling good, but thanks to your prayers for panadero! I was able to get out and work on Wednesday and teach some of our investigators we’re working on! One of which is OGGE! We were able to teach him this week with one of the members out here and he’s really excited to learn more everytime and super ready for the gospel! Sadly, he went to Manila on Friday and got back Sunday night and didn’t make it to church... but we’ll see him next week at church haha! Then on THURSDAY we had a zone conference, so we were over in Legazpi for about the whole day! We got home at about 5 then we had a family home evening that night at one of our less actives! which came to church this week YEET! FRIDAY really good day... we finally had a whole day to get out and work! So we went out and TRACTED! HAHA not very succesful tho we only found 1 new investigator haha but she is a great investigator she texted us on Sunday and wanted to come to church but she wouldn’t make it because of the RAIN! stoopid rain! Always making it hard for our investigators to come to church! Some people might think rain isn’t a big deal but filipinos HATE RAIN!! hahaha they're soo scared of it haha!! So then Saturday came around and I did exchanges in the other area so I wasn’t in my area that day but I had a dandy day working with Elder Mahipos visiting some investigators and less actives that I know from their ward so that was fun!  Then SUNDAY! WOOW Sundays are long days! hahaha but FUNN DAYS!! So on Sundays we head up to Lomacao our group for church at 9  to 11 then we get home get something to eat then head to church in Guinobatan at 1 until 4! Then get something to eat then we get to go out and work! But it kinda sucks cause nightimes aren’t very good for work at all out here! We went out to some of our new investigators to teach with some members but... when we got there they replied by saying they were "asleep" hmm how does that work your asleep but still responded... hmm well that happened to like 4 of our investigators that night then we just went to one of our old less actives to see if he came back from Legazpi and well lucky us he was there and the members we were with totally helped him to feel welcome to come back to church again! Missionaries can only do so much! WE NEED MEMBERS HAHA!! 

But that’s pretty much it that happened this week we went out to some hill this morning and played some games and had some fun! But thats about it!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL AND THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!! 

HAPPY BDAY SHOUT OUT TO JESS LAST WEEK AND TYLER THIS WEEK!! LOVE YOU GUYS!

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

Dear Sister Baker ❤️

A sweet email received from the Legazpi mission president's wife.....we love hearing that our missionary is doing well and that he is happy. We know they love him!! ❤️

Sister Baker,

I was with your son at Zone Conference this week. It was wonderful to spend a few minutes visiting with him afterwards. He is doing great!  I am thankful that he is serving here in this mission. He is working hard and always smiling (at least when I see him!). I thought you would enjoy seeing a picture of him. 

Thank you for your support of your missionary's efforts. It is a blessing to serve with these dedicated servants of the Lord. 

Sincerely,

Sister Kotter 

#BLESSED -WEEK 76

SO I’m soo excited to tell you guys about this week!! This has been the BEST week I have had out here in Guinobatan since the first week I got here! So in our weekly planning last week me and my comp made some HUGE goals for new investigators this week and other goals to help our investigators to progress and well IT WORKED!! It wouldn't have worked without a little change of heart in me and my comp! My companion doesn't really have motivation to tract out here cause he’s been here for a long time now and hasn't had any success really in tracting out here, but we had faith we would have success this week! 

So on Tuesday we went out and started tracting immediately  We found and taught 3 new investigators right when we started! Then as we went to go and try to teach one lady we had met on the street the other week we took a detour down a road and as soon as we turned the road I saw a guy outside his house and he looked at me and smiled and I said to my comp “ we're gonna teach him!"  Well as we got to his front gate he was already opening the gate and he said "hey elders”.  I was like wait, you know the missionaries?? He’s like ya I’m a member hahaha!  Well, turns out he goes to church in the other ward, because thats where his friends are haha so I didn’t know him but then he says "come in elders I have someone I want you to teach!" HAHAHAHA WHOAH!!! #blessed!!  Well we get inside and turns out his cousin has been coming to church with him the last 2 weeks and wants to get baptised!! Well the elders in the other ward didn’t know where he lived so they never went to him luckily we found him this week and finally got to teach him and gave him a baptismal date for FEB 11!! he’s really excited for his baptism and he’s also gonna be baptized with his nephew who is 8 yrs old!! 

Well our prayer was answered!! We found our GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR!!  

But that’s not the only miracle that happened this week…………..So remember that house I told you about that we built again for that family after it got taken out by the typhoon! Well he’s a part member and he’s been really hard hearted back in the day and didn’t want to listen to missionaries! BUTT!!! We softened his heart THRU service!! He wants to be taught now and he’s already started changing his life! He has had a problem with the word of wisdom his whole life but now… IT'S GONE!!  He completely changed! WOAHH! #blessed!! We also set a baptismal date for him on Feb 26 which is the baptism of Sister Monellia! The lady who is waiting to get married to get baptized SOO WE ARE EXCITED FOR NEXT MONTH!! To see all these baptisms go thru! Elder Ayson is a little sad cause he probably won’t be here next transfer but he’s happy he was the one who found these baptisms!! 

Well that’s about it besides me losing 8 pounds in 2 days... what.. #PrayForPanadero! hehe kidding just a little stomach problem! 

I LOVE ALL OF YOU AND AM SOO THANKFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS TO HELP MISSIONARY WORK THROUGHOUT THE WORLD! KEEP IT COMING! 

"preach the gospel at all times if necessary use words" just wanted to share one of my favorite quotes with you guys!

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

 Guinobatan 2nd Ward Christmas Party 🎄

 Is this what they mean by...."fishers of men"?

 part of Elder Baker's Christmas package!!  

 RAIN...... 🌩 the typhoon is coming!!!

 Service Project after Typhoon Nina

Rebuilding this house!!

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, 

if ye have experienced a change of heart, 

and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, 

I would ask, can ye feel so now?

                                        --Alma 5:26

MERRY CHRISTMAS SKYPE!! 🎄 -WEEK 75

Because of TYPHOON NINA, Elder Baker's Skype

 home for Christmas was delayed.

He had no power for a couple of weeks.

And actually it still comes and goes.  But, he was FINALLY able

to Skype us and it was SO awesome!

We are so thankful for the technology that affords 

us the ability to be all together as a family even though 

we are in so many different locations.  We were able to 

talk in the Philippines, in Pittsburgh, in Orem and in Mesa, AZ.  

We had so many people around that got to say HI!  

We are so proud of the wonderful job that Elder Baker 

is doing and we love him so much!

MALIGAYANG PASKO AT MANIGONG BAGONG TAON!! -WEEK 74

Subject line translated:  MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS! It’s soo good to be back and to be able to see how all of your Christmas and New Years has been!! I hope everyone had a great time this year!! Cause I definitely had a Christmas that I will never forget!! So I’ll give you guys a quick lil overview of what has happened these last 2 weeks!

So last week we had CHRISTMAS PARTIES EVERYDAY HAHAHA! The only day we didn’t have a party was on Tuesday.  So we had a ton of fun that week and a lot of FOOD HAHAHAHA! We had our group Christmas party on Wednesday up in Lomacao and that was really fun. I think we had more investigators come than we did members haha so we found a lot of new people to teach! But it was just a simple party, we had some presentations and some spiritual lessons and then food and then karaoke! haha FILIPINOS LOVE KARAOKE! HAHAHA they sang karaoke until 2 am! We had left around 7 but they kept going till 2 am hahaha! Then the next day we had our ward Christmas party and it was sooo much fun, something I’ll never forget!  I remember after doing our missionary presentation at the party and going and sitting down and right after that I just felt sooo sad... I was so sad. That that was my last Christmas here in the Philippines!  Last Christmas on the mission... there is just something that makes Christmas soo special while out here on the mission! and I’m gonna miss it! 

So that was the parties then came Christmas day.  Christmas day was soo fun because it was a Sunday and soo spiritual!  I don’t know if this is how it is in America, but out here if Christmas is a Sunday they only have sacrament... so that was weird! But then came Sunday night... the night of TYPHOON NINA! hahaha We had a super typhoon the night of Christmas! It was the strongest typhoon I have been in out here on the mission! It started to get really strong around 9:30 or 10 but we went out at like 9 and it was strong. The wind and rain was coming down hard!! After we went back inside I sat outside on our little balcony and watched the trees outside and I actually watched a coconut tree fall down from the wind! That was crazy! But after it started to die down I went to sleep and then woke up the next morning and the streets were just filled with leaves and branches! Almost every single banana tree out here fell over and alot of coconut trees fell down! That morning...supposed to be p-day, we had a csp at a members house cutting a tree in pieces that fell down on their house, and then that night had dinner at our bishops house. We didn’t really get a p-day that day cause there wasn’t any electricity! So sorry if I didn’t reply to your emails! haha But then we had a brown out this WHOLE entire week! We just barely got power back on Saturday night for New Years and then it died again on Sunday and now it’s back on for now... who knows when it will die again!! haha

This whole entire week has just been service projects in the morning, working a little in the afternoon then studies at night cause there’s no power! Actually earlier this morning we got to build a member a new house!! Her house was completely gone after the storm and alot of the members came out to help us build them a new house!! Love the member support out here!  All I ask is just pray for the people out here to recover quickly from the storm! Thankfully not many people died!  But I’m just thankful I made it thru another storm hahaha! Up next is living thru a volcano eruption!! Hopefully I get to see that before I leave!! 

I LOVE ALL OF YOU SOO MUCH I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT 2017!! 

Fun quote I found “When you come out of this storm you won’t be the same person you were when you went in…that's what this storms all about" 

I know each and every one of us have our own storms! But don’t forget that God has a plan for each of us! We will all learn something from our individual "storms" and come out stronger and more ready for the next storms that are to come! 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!