Keep the Elder "Baker's" Coming!

A handwriten letter dad received from Dillon:

August 17

Dear Dad,

So last night we performed with the Nashville Tribute Band and we were singing two songs.  The first was "John's Song" it talked about John the Baptist and baptising Jesus.  But the second song was the good one.  It's called "I Was Born" and it talks about people from all around the world going to serve missions and at one point the guy says "born the son of humble converts........and I'm here to pay it forward." And I felt the spirit so strong at that moment knowing that what I'm doing here is not only for me but it's for you!

I'm so happy that I was able to be your first son to serve a mission!  And I can't wait to keep the Elder "Baker's" coming!  I love you, I miss you!  But I know that I can do this hard thing in my life because I have you pushing me thru it!

KYC!

Love,

Elder Baker

ps   I know this is a little early I just didn't want to forget!!!  But make sure you give Court an extra BIG hug from me on her Birthday!  Thanks Love you!

Born the son of humble converts, and I'm here to pay it forward.

And we are here to serve our King! Children of the most high. 

And it's His good news that we bring As we labor gladly bringing souls to Christ.

We are born of goodly parents,  blessed souls of a rich inheritance.

We are children of the Father, an army of His sons and daughters.
                                           ---Nashville Tribute Band

Challenge: Become Truly Converted to Christ -WEEK 2

So to start off this week, we watched the Character of Christ devotional and it absolutely changed my whole perspective on missionary life and just everyday life. In the devotional he challenges every one to become truly converted to Christ! So that was my whole goal this week! Later that Sunday we found out that our entire branch is in the choir lol but it is so fun cause we are singing like this pop up beat song like one you would hear in like a church in the south! It makes me want to stand up and start clapping my hands and dancing! lol its called johns song! and we get to perform with the band at one of our devos!

Monday I had to clean like 20 toilets lol it kinda sucked! The rest of Monday was just like studying and chilling so that was nice.  Tuesday was a great day because I became like best friends with everyone in my district and I love these guys!  Also on Tuesday we had a lesson with our "investigator" and it went so well our tagalog is coming along so good! And he said he commited to baptism! I know its fake but it still made me happy because if the "investigator" doesnt like the missionaries he can kick them out so we did pretty good!

Thursday nothing good happened really. EXCEPT i finally saw LUKER!  It was soo nice seing someone I knew!  I also see Earl Cody and Patrick all the time too so thats nice!
And then Friday! ughhh yesterday was terrible! I woke up terribly sick and the day just seemed to last forever!!! But it was cool because our investigator became our teacher and taught us ways to become a better missionary!

Well I love you all I miss you all so much! I'm gonna give a brief testimony in tagalog so you see what its like!

Alam ko po na totoo ng simbahan. Alam ko po na manunubos po si Jesuchristo. Alam ko po na totoo ng pagbabayad-sala. Mahal ko ng simbahan, mahal ko si Jesuchristo si pangalan ni Jesuchristo amen.

 Rough translation:  I know this church is true.  I know that Jesus Christ is my redeemer. I know that the atonement is true.  I love this church, I love Jesus Christ.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Baker

 According to Dillon, this guy in red is the

funniest guy he's ever met!

 Missionaries all walking to the temple - great sight!

He knows I will follow him,

Give all my life to him.

I feel my Savior's love,

The love he freely gives me.

1 Nephi 3:7 He shall prepare a way! -WEEK 1

HELLO PO! pamilya and friends!

So the MTC is a pretty crazy place! It's literally non stop studying ALL DAY LONG! And all they do is talk in tagalog in the classroom! But it is a great place to learn because the spirit is so strong here! 

My companion is Elder Egbert! He is a really cool guy. At first we didn't really talk, but I think we were both just really tired! We get along very well which is nice. Our roomies are in a trio which consists of Elder Daily, Elder Asay, and Elder Heaton! They're all really great guys and very spiritual!

So day 2 was even crazier than day 1! As soon as we got into the classroom we were already learning how to testify! We later learned that we were gonna have to know how to testify because we were going to be teaching our first "investigator" the next day! so we learned how to testify and pray in tagalog! but then the teachers left and we had 3 hours to prepare a lesson... IN TAGALOG! It was nuts me and my companion had a like 5 minute lesson on the plan of salvation! which wasnt even like a lesson, just us telling him what it was and then testifying of its truth! LOL thats pretty much all we could do! so we taught or lesson and then as we were leaving the "investigator" says that we are going to be teaching him again on Monday! so we've already started planning our next lesson on the restoration.

Well day 3 was probably the most stressful day of my life! This was the day that we actually taught or investigator and it went terrible lol its a good thing its fake cause he definitely wouldnt have been baptised after that lesson! LOL but by the end of the day i was  really mad at myself and the techers cause I had no idea what they were saying and it was just HARD! But right before we went to our rooms our teacher reminded us of the scripture 1 Nephi 3:7 which is the I will go and do scripture, but she really emphasized on the part about he will not give us a commandment save he shall prepare a way for us to accomplish it! so I know that all this struggle will eventually come to an end and I will be able to teach by the spirit in tagalog!

Mahal, Elder Baker 

His Companion "Elder Egbert"

 

Study Group and selfies!

The Room

 The District

"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."

On his way.... The Airport 8.5.15

We took "Elder Baker" to the airport this morning

bright and early to catch his flight to Salt Lake City.

From there, he was picked up by Tyler (his companion for the next hour)

and they had lunch at J-Dawgs before Tyler dropped our

newest Elder off at the Provo MTC to start his MISSION!

This was not the easiest of days for this momma.

Or for his dad, or his sisters for that matter.

We will miss his smiling face and his funny

sense of humor, but we are so very proud of 

him and know that this is exactly where he should

be right at this exact moment.  We, as his parents and 

his family have done our part.  We are handing him

over to the Lord for two years, The Lord will now do His.

He will help him to learn and grow into the man that 

Dillon can and should be.  His own faith and his testimony

will grow and he will help so many people in the Philippines

and will change so many lives there for the better.  

How can I be sad about that?  I cannot.  

He left with a HUGE smile on his face and 

he was ready to GO!

The MTC drop-off with Tyler after a good ole fashioned

pump up speech about how awesome missions are!

That's a couple of happy handsome guys right there,

proud of my new missionary and my returned missionary.

 

We have been saved for these latter-days

To build the kingdom in righteous ways.

We hear the words our prophet declared;

"Let each who's worthy go forth and share."

It's OFFICIAL.......He's ELDER BAKER 8.4.15

We went to the Stake Offices where President Hiatt

set Dillon apart as a Full-time Missionary

for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

He's official......  He's now a missionary!

He was given an amazing blessing, 

I know that he will be able to go and serve the Lord

in the Philippines and do just what is needed there.

He was blessed to be able to get along well with

his companions and others around him.  He always

does anyways, but I loved this part of the blessing so much.

He was blessed with the gift of tounges.  He will need this.

His language is tough.  But, I know with diligence and 

patience and with faith, it will come.

I'm so proud of Dillon and his choice to 

serve a mission for our church.....

now get out there and find those golden opportunities!

 After we came home, he had a giant group of his friends

gather at our house to say their good-byes.

It was so great to see the love and support for him.  

I know they will continue to support him 

throughout his mission.  

SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THEM!

Best Frousins!  Cousin/Friends!

We love this great group of friends!!

  

Just a quick 2 years.....  Don't forget to write!

The Lord needs valiant servants,
To do his work in the latter day,
Who follow the teachings of Jesus
And serve his people in a loving way.
I will be his servant
And keep my covenants valiantly.
I'll stand for truth, I'll stand for right.
The Lord can depend on me.

FAREWELL TALK IN CHURCH

Dillon gave his "farewell" talk in church today.  He did such a fantastic job!  I was so proud of him.  I know he is ready to get out there and serve a mission and serve his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and to find those people in the Philippines, who are ready to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be baptized in His name. His testimony of the Gospel is strong, it is unwavering, he is ready.

 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might mind and stregth, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.   Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.   --Doctrine & Covenants 4: 2-3

I can be a missionary now.

I don't have to wait until I'm grown.

I'll live each day the best that I know how,

And they'll see I have a testimony of my own,

A testimony of my very own.

TEMPLE NIGHT

Special night for our family for sure as Dillon received his endowment.

Wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else!

I love to see the temple.

I'm going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.

I'll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple

I'll go inside someday

I'll cov'nant with my Father;

I'll promise to obey

For the temple is a holy place

Where we are sealed together

As a child of God, I've learned this truth:

A family is forever.