"THROW THE UMBRELLA AWAY!" -WEEK 93

Soo first off about the subject I heard something cool in church yesterday. So this guy was talking about how God is always showering blessings upon us but sometimes we’re just too scared to take in all his blessings! Then he said "GO OUTSIDE, THROW THE UMBRELLA WAY, AND TAKE IN THE RAIN!" 

I thought it was the coolest thing cause God’s blesisngs are definitely raining down on us ALWAYS! Maybe not the blessings we want.. maybe it’s a trial.. but no matter what it is, IT’S A BLESSING to help make you stronger and more ready to enter in his presence! 

But we had a pretty good week this week.. well it ENDED AWESOME!! So my new companion is Elder Balacuit this is his second area so he’s kinda new but he’s a GREAT missionary! Kind of quiet but I’ll break him out of his shell and help him be a little more open. But this week I was kinda showing him the whole area so that hopefully by next week we can do splits cause we have a lot of members that work over here with us, so hopefully we will be able to find those people that are ready for the gospel quicker haha! 

But we had the most awesome blessing this week! So our investigator Arcel came to church FINALLY!! She was the one that couldn't go cause her dad didn’t want her to ..BUT she was able to go this week and brought her little sister with her so that was AWESOME!! She’s soo excited to be baptized also.. we had to move her bapt date and she was like "ohh why I thought it was the 30th" haha so she really wants to be baptized and she loves the Book of Mormon! She testified of its truthfulness to us last week! I’m soo excited to be able to help her come unto Christ and finally see some progression in this area, she could be my last baptism..hopefully no.t Hopefully we find those other souls that are waiting for us! 

But Arcel coming to church was another testimony builder of FASTING! Cause I was fasting that her dad would soften his heart and let her come to church and.. it WORKED!! YESS!! So I’m pretty excited now and pumped to go out and find more people ready to be taught! 

One other thing that was awesome that we talked about in district meeting was the story of Lehi and his dream and how he wanted to share the fruit with his family and then Elder Vainikolo brought up the word ohana which means of course "family and family means no one gets left behind" and we talked about how everyone here is our family and we need to make sure NO ONE gets left behind! and doesn’t hear the gospel!! 

I love each and every one of you. You’re all part of my FAMILY!! And I hope you have an awesome week and an even better MOTHERS DAY! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THOSE AWESOME MOMS!! Where would we be without you!! 

LOVE ELDER PANADERO

HAKUNA MATATA!!

 "district"

TURNING "20"

ako ay snag darageno -WEEK 91

HELLO people! So first of all THANKS to all those who greeted me a happy birthday!  We had a pretty cool week this week we have been trying to find those new investigators that are ready for the gospel but let’s just say we’re still looking haha.. We found a lot of new people this week that we are hoping will become interested in the message of the restoration but if not we’ll just keep looking.. I know there is at LEAST 1 there waiting for us and WE WILL FIND THEM!

But we had a pretty AWESOME experience with one of our investigators this week.. So when we went to go teach her, she had just gotten out of the hospital 2 days before cause she got surgery done on her lower back to remove something.. so she said she’s had a a lot of time to READ! And guess what she’s been reading!?!? THE BOOK OF MORMON! Well I know that if you read the Book of Mormon you’ll know that it is TRUE! and that’s exactly what happened to her! She said at first she was reading both the Book of Mormon and the Bible and comparing them and found a lot of similarities so she became more interested then she said as she has been reading she just FEELS that the Book of Mormon is SOO TRUE! Obviously the spirit was working hard on her and she now accepted it and realized it was true!! Well after the lesson we invited her if she wanted to be baptized and she said YES I DO! But she still has to wait a month to recover from her surgery so she can’t go to church yet! And another problem is her father.. she’s 20 yrs old but because she lives with her father she has to follow his rules and he doesn’t want her to go to church or be baptized! so as of now our plan for her father is we’re gonna fast and pray to soften his heart and try to get close with him also to help him feel open with us!

so feel free to send your prayers over for her and her father so sister Arcel can get better soon and get out to church hehe!

ALSO BEFORE HEADING OUT I JUST WANT TO SEND OUT A BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT TO THE BEST MOMMA IN THE WORLD!! HEHEHE LOVE YOU MOM!!

LOVE ELDER PANADERO

HAKUNA MATATA!!

BLESSED! -WEEK 57

SOOOO this week was one of the best weeks ever so I'll tell you a lil story about this guy I met!! 

So it starts wayy back last week hehe...

So we were out tracting in one of our areas right, and no one wanted to listen haha and then we were walking past this one gate with a tree house in the back and my comp walked right past, cause the house was far away and probably wouldn’t answer... but I wanted to try so I walked up to the gate and yelled tao po as loud as I could hahaha for them to come out!  And some old lady looks around the corner at us and then looks away... then some old guy comes crawling out of his house and starts walking to the gate! (5 mins later) he gets to the gate haha and starts opening it immediately to let us in!  We start talking and his name is tatay Bueno well tatay is just like father in Tagalog but we call him tatay Bueno and bueno is Spanish right? So he tries telling us he’s from Mexico and like joking around haha he’s hilarious for an 83 year old!! And then we are talking and we get to his house and meet his wife who is really nice too, really old can’t really walk... and eventually started teaching them.  Well, we taught them about 3 times that week and the last lesson was on Saturday we really were expecting him to come to church.  Well he didn’t come.. but he had cut his foot and couldn’t walk so he said next week!! So we kept teaching him and he’s doing great and then one day we’re teaching and see he has a tatoo on his chest. We ask him what it is, and he says you know I told you I love the Lord right?? And then pulls up his shirt and… HAHAHA!!  HE HAS A FULL CHEST TATTOO OF JESUS'S FACE HAHAHA!! (we’re gonna try and get a pic with his tattoo this week) so cool and then the week ended sooo great with us walking into church at 8:30.  30 minutes before starting and he’s sitting in the sacrament hall talking with the members hahaha!! He says to us I beat you here haha turns out he beat everyone there, even the branch president haha he showed up 10 minutes before the branch president haha! 

It probably doesn’t seem that interesting of a story to you guys, but this is the cool part... he is the first investigator that I have tracted that actually came to church!! 

I’ve tracted alot of people, and alot have progressed and read the Book of Mormon and prayed but none!! None! Have came to church!!  Every baptism or other investigator coming to church have either been referrals or part member families!! Soo it was really cool for me and my comp and we just love this guy soo much!! 

Well little update on our other investigators.  We still have the part member family coming to church working for the baptismal date of Oct 1 so that’s looking good and we have one other girl coming to church, a part member also that is working for Oct 1, but might get moved back a little, we’ll see what happens!! But I’M LOVING THIS AREA AND THIS MISSION AND JUST WAYYY HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!  SO HAPPY I DECIDED TO SERVE A MISSION AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND FELLOW MEMBERS FOR PUSHING ME TO BE WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW!! 

Elder Baker

HAKUNA MATATA!!

ps.  Elder Baker’s ldsmail account is STILL giving him fits!!  He wanted to apologize to everyone if you’ve written him and he has not been able to actually see it!  He hasn’t been able to log into his actual account for about a month now!  He’s hoping it will be fixed this week!  prayers for his emails account!!!  

#EveryMemberAMissionary -WEEK 49

YOOO WHAT UP FAM AND FRIENDS!! I hope everyone had a fun 4th of July!! No one blew up their arm right?? I bet Marqus and Brady did... 

Well we had a pretty great 4th hahaha we had a zone activity so ya that was fun. Sadly I didn't bring my wardrobe of American flag apparel so I just had to wear normal clothes... but I still remembered America in my heart!! And I'm happy to say that America was represented well early this morning as me and Elder Pullicar took on two pinoys in a nice game of 2 on 2 basketball and we wrecked them!! #MERICA!! 

But like other than showing pinoys how us Americans roll we actually did some spiritual stuff and worked haha!! This week was actually a great week! So of course we have been working with Loribell one of our progressing investigators and actually we only got 1 lesson last week cause she was busy, but we got to teach her with her mom who was visiting!! She wasn't interested buttt Loribell still is and she attended church this week!! THEN ON WEDNESDAY we had a member give us a referral of a family that used to be taught but idk what happened cause they're golden investigators! So we went there, and taught the first lesson and they knew all the answers like better than some members do!! haha and We taught them twice and then they attended church on Sunday too!! There is 3 of them that came to church! The oldest sister Kristina and the brother Jomel and sister Kyla!! We're gonna start working with them alot, because they said they've been to church like 20 times, but never got baptized, soo we'll see what the problem was there!! 

I LOVE YOU GUYS ALL!  JUST KEEP DOING WHAT WE DO AS MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AND BECOME A LIGHT UNTO THE WORLD!!  I read that the best missionary work a member can do is show their faith by the choices they make!! 

"Live your life so that those who don't know Him but know you will come to know Him because of you"  TROOF!! #EveryMemberAMissionary 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

The LIGAO Zone

 He says every Sunday they get fed like KINGS

and even more days of the week...He loves it!

We love the families that feed our missionaries all over the world 💞

 Jersey shop he found where he can have anything made! Go Devils!

an oldie but a goodie.......

 Elder Baker's American Flag Apparel!

(left at home, but always loved)

I'm trying to be like Jesus;

I'm following in his ways.

I'm trying to love as he did,

in all that I do and say.

At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,

But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

"Love one another as Jesus love you.

Try to show kindness in all that you do.

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,

For these are the things Jesus taught."

NAVY MEDICAL MISSION -WEEK 48

Sooooo this week started out pretty dang cool! So Tuesday and Wednesday we got to be interpreters for the Americans from the Navy hahaha which was soooo cool! We just like sat and translated everything they were saying like both ways haha! So on Tuesday I was in optometry working on eyes. All they were doing was just checking their eyes then giving them glasses for reading or seeing better! So we just like talked to them about what the problem was and then ya they got some glasses and left haha but it was wayy cool having a ton of Americans around me hahaha soooo much English!!!! Then on Wednesday we went back and we helped in just general medical so we were helping them find out what the pain was on their body and then helped them find out how to fix it!! So that was a cool start to the week! Then after that it was just normal work.  

We have been working with our progressing investigator Loribell trying to get her to know for herself that our message is true and she went to institute on Saturday with a member ....but didn't come on Sunday... because there was a lot of rain and her umbrella was broken!! welp that was a heart breaker... but luckily one of our members brought his sister to church who is a non member! I didn't even know she wasn't, and she's been coming to church the last 2 weeks and sat behind us and I was always giving them candy so now were tight and maybe we can teach them!! hahahha

But like that's all that happened this week!! I love you all and hope you guys just keep living life to the fullest never let a moment go by without making the most of it! 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

"LIGAO" 

people waiting to be seen by the navy medical

 

 Translators for the Navy Medical officers

Navy Medical

 

PPINES UPDATE -WEEK 38

Well this week was the first week with my new comp!!  And well it was AMAZING!!  So it was really hard last transfer because I was trying to go and work and teach people, but my comp was really just wanting to sit around at the members house, so it was like making me pretty mad.  I wanted to go work but since he was like 24 he was just like ya don't tell me what to do.. so it was annoying!!  But then this new guy came in and everyone was saying he was gonna be lazy too but NOO he is not lazy, he's like let's get out and work!! hahaha the first day with him we went out and got 12 lessons!! hahaha  It was soooo sweet!  That's the most we've gotten in a while!!  And like all the other days are like 10 or 8 lessons!!  So it's great to be back in the grind of things!! 

Well update on some of our investigators!!  Well we found this girl last week, she was a referral from our new convert family!  She is 11 yrs old and her name is Shella Cervantes!  But everyone calls her aunty cute!! (aunty means like sister) hahha but so we call her aunty cute too hahahha!!  Well we first taught her last Saturday and then she attended church the following Sunday!!  And she attended yesterday din!!  So that's working out great!! We also found a friend of Justing her name is Betsey, and she's pretty cool too, she reads the Book of Mormon but her mom wont let her attend church at the "mormons" but hey, we'll get hat figured out! (i'll have elder nonu take her out) And then last week we had one of our old investigators who I thought still wasn't interested but then she told us last week she wants us to start teaching her again!!  So that's awesome!!  And then a couple days ago we were over there and I saw a ctr ring on her finger hahaha!!! 

Something that is pretty funny but kinda annoying!! Is Sundays!!  On Sundays I'm pretty much like the first counselor!!  The president calls me all the time to do something for him or like I had to teach Sunday school and Priesthood class two weeks ago!! and I almost always have to teach at least one class if I'm not teaching Sunday school I have to teach Priesthood!!  But it's been great cause I learn sooo much more and it helps me like feel more comfortable getting up and teaching or talking in front of people!!  But then again when I come home and have to speak in front of 300 plus people I'm still gonna be pretty freaked out!!  But it will be a lot better talk than my last one cause I have learned soooo much on this mish!!  I love it and I'm soo gratefull for this mission!! 

LAST I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY MOMMA!!! AND TO ALL OTHER MOMS AROUND THE GLOBE THAT ARE READING THIS!!!  HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!  I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR YOUR KIDS!!!  I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE BEST GUYS OUT HERE AND THEY ALL SAY I'TS BECAUSE OF THEIR MOTHERS!!  YOU FIND OUT THERE'S A LOT OF SECRET MOMMAS BOYS WHILE YOU'RE ON THE MISH!!  BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE A LIL EXTRA SHOUTOUT TO MY MOM, BECAUSE IT'S HER BDAY THIS WEEK!!  AND IF IT WASN'T FOR MY MOM I WOULDN'T BE HERE!!  ACTUALLY I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE GRADUATED HIGHSCHOOL, BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONE WAKING ME UP AND MAKING ME BREAKFAST EVERYDAY!!  (MAN I MISS THAT BREAKFAST!!)  MAHAL NA MAHAL KITA MAMA!! 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed

and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.

For behold, they are blesed in all things, both temporal and spiritual;

and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven,

that thereby thay may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. 

O remember, remember that these things are true;

for the Lord God hath spoken it.

                                                      --Mosiah 2:41

BROWNS AT THE SUPERBOWL!! -WEEK 33

So first things first, this week was rough!!  I had a slight fever this last week of 102.2 lol just a lil... but it's okay no one worry now!! (MOM)  I'm doing fine now!!  But this last week we had 2 days of rest which was kinda disappointing!!  I always say to myself aww I just want to stay in, I'm tired, but I go out and work and then I'm not tired!!  But those 2 days of forced staying at home were terrible!!  All I wanted to do was go out and try to work.  But if I stood up the first place I had to go was to the C.R. or bathroom...  But other than that whole problem, we still were able to work.   And we visited one of our investigators si Robin or I call him ROBINHO!!  Well he's the one that was supposed to be baptised this Saturday, but we have to move it to next Saturday!!  

AND OGI, the boy I told you about last week, is doing good.  The other day he was back up in the trees climbing to get what's called a star apple!!  And he was like standing on one branch with one foot that was like the size of a finger!!  And then the other foot on a different branch in the slpits reaching out to get a perfectly ripe star apple!! hahahaha  He's absolutely crazy!!  And I love him!! 

Also, one of our investigators nanay Bellagoza said this last week she thinks she'll get baptised while I'm here!! She's been getting taught for about 2 years!!  Soo she's getting close!!  She really knows it's true but she's scared that she might fall away from the church after like 3 years, cause that's whats happened in her past with other churches.

In the spirit of Easter, read the teachings of Howard W Hunter chapter 6 about the atonement and resurrection!   It will add a lot more knowledge about the resurrection!! 

WELL,  I just want to end by sharing with you guys a new favorite verse!!  Mosiah 3:19 the natural man is an enemy to  God!!  Once we truly recognize that we can learn to counter the natural man through the promptings of the holy ghost!

I love you all and want you all to have a safe week!!

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

The sister's baptism

"OGI" recoving like a boss!

 

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?

He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?

He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?

He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?

Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.

What does he ask?  Live like his Son.