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

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!

TARA NA! -WEEK 11

TARA NA! is lets go in tagalog!

well so last week after I emailed we went back to the apartment and found out that we didnt have keys!!  so we were locked out lol! but I climbed up the house and snuck in a window!! (picture included) lol so that was fun!  and then that night we had a family home teaching thing and played a fun game with baby powder (picture also included) then tuesday we had to travel to Legazpi!  A 4 hour boat ride and then a lot of time in a van! lol  it was fun we got to go the mall in Legazpi and then just chilled and walked around the city! then wednesday we had trainers and trainees training!  WHICH MEANT I GOT TO SEE MY AMERICAN FRIENDS!!!  it was so nice to talk to americans and talk about american stuff lol!!  and then after trainers traing we went to the pier to go back to Masbate and there wasnt a boat leaving till 10 at night so we waited until then.  it was like 3 hours!! and then the boat ride was 4 hours, so we got home at like 3:30 lol so we went to bed at like 4 am and then got up at 6:30 lol I wasn't that tired thru out the day tho!! Heavenly Father blessed me with strength!!!

so on friday we had a lesson with an investigator and it was our first lesson with her. she was a referral and at the end of the lesson we invited her to pray and she was struggling thru the prayer and then as she was about to say amen she started going again and started praying for her family and started crying and then started praying for forgiveness for her past!!  the spirit was sooo strong!  I mean during the prayer I had no idea what she was saying but the spirit was telling me it was good!! lol!  but then after that lesson we went to a recent convert and I shared a scripture and I decided to share about 1Nephi 3:7 and focused on the part that says we don't have any commandments given to us unless God knows that we can accomplish them!  so I was telling her this and she is a single mom of 3 girls!  and she started crying talking about how hard it has been for her!  and I was telling her that we are never alone and we can always pray for strength from Heavenly Father!!  and she was crying and saying some jibberish tagalog that I dont understand BUT!  I do understand the spirit, and he told me that she was happy that I shared that scripture with her!! 

well yesterday we went to Uson which is like an hour away and it was soooo beautiful there, sooo many trees it was soo cool!

and then this morning we played basketball with our district it was fun!! now I'm here hehehe!

I hope everyone is doing good and reading the scriptures everyday!!  and reading conference talks!!  we are sooo blessed to have modern day revelation to guide us!!!  and we need to listen to it!!

OHHH WAIT, SO I FOUND THIS QUOTE BY JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH AND IT'S GREAT!!

"I know that the work I have been called to do is the work of God or I would not stay here one minute, no, I would not have left home.  But I know that our happiness is dependant upon my faithfulness while I am here.   I should be willing to do this much for the love of mankind when our Savior could suffer as He did for us... I am in the hands of our Heavenly Father and He will watch over me and protect me if I do His will.  And He will be with you while I am away and watch over you and protect you in all things." 

well I love you all and I know Heavenly Father is watching over you all while I am here!!! 

mahal na mahal kita lahat!! 

KAYA NINYO!!

(you can do it) 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

 Climbing into the apartment window!

 doing service, clearing leaves.

 baby powder activity

He got to see all of his newbie friends again!

 so happy he gets to eat normal treats once in a while!

 teaching them the "forks up"

 always hard at work!

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.  -- 1 Nephi 3:7

MASTER BAKER -WEEK 9

Well first off, the subject!  Instead of PANADERO,  they call me MASTER BAKER sorry dad I think mine is better!! 

Ok so this last week.  So on Monday last week we gave a blessing to an old man and then we came and emailed, and then on Tuesday we found out he had leukemia and then on Wednesday he died.  And I was really depressed thinking the blessing didn't work but my companion pointed out to me that it is better that he die now instead of having to live longer with leukemia and he was also like paralyzed and blind so ya, it was bad!  So my companion pointed out that that was the power of the priesthood blessing, that he would either be healed, or put out of his misery and his families misery of having to watch him struggle everyday.  k then Wednesday we took a trip to THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!  lol this whole island is the middle of nowhere, but really it was a 4 hour trike and bus ride out there, and then a 30 minute motorcycle ride into the deep parts of the jungle!!  Oh ya, and on our way out there I pooped for the first time here in Masbate!  lol ya I know like a whole week!  And we had to stop at a school and I was like 1 second away from pooping my pants!

Lol but it was all worth it, cause the investigator out there is GOLDEN!  She is READY to be baptised!!  Thursday I don't really remember too much but we taught an investigator who came to church this week!  ummm Friday we did a baptismal interview with the girl who got married last week, and she's getting baptised this coming Saturday!  SATURDAY WE HAD MY FIRST BAPTISM!!!  I didn't do it but still it was soo cool! Now Sunday! Well yesterday we did not watch conference yet we had a district conference, so all the members on Masbate Island were there!  It was a WHOPPING 200 people! LOL ya not that many members but still ALL great people!!  Then after 7 and a half hours of conference,  we went straight to a blessing..... at the top of a mountain!  lol it was a 30 minute hike up in the rain!  And then on he way down stopped at the Villiamors family area!  They all live together up in this mountain place it's sweet!  And while we were there we gave another blessing!  It's also fast Sunday we haven't eaten forever!!!  Well now today I'm here just chillin!  I love you all!

ps. if you're ever having a bad day read a couple hymns they're the best!

LOVE ELDER BAKER
HAKUNA MATATA!!

the motorcycle ride

 the school with the "bathroom" lol

 baptism

Just hum your favorite hymn,

Sing out with vigor and vim.

And you will find it clears your mind,

Hum your favorite hymn.

ELDER JOE COMING AT YOU LIVE -WEEK 9

Well I'm out here in the ppines! I'm not in Legazpi like everyone thinks I am.  I am actually in Masbate! lol  Right when I got to Legazpi, I found my companion and it turns out that he is the BRANCH PRESIDENT of a ward on Masbate! lol So, I'm over here in the mobo ward! Ohh ya, guess what, I'm the branch clerk lol! Ya it was a very suprising and crazy first day lol! Um well, I got here Wednesday and then on Thursday morning we took a 3 hour boat ride to Masbate! And then we got here, got a couple things un-packed and then had a quick comp study and went to work lol!! I met brother Mark Jade who looked like a 12 year old kid and then he came out teaching with us, then Elder Irabon (my companion). Well then we went and taught Sister Bellagoza and I invited her to be baptised at the end and she accepted!! Then we went to brother Rocky and I taught him and then I extended the baptismal invitation again ... and... HE ACCEPTED ALSO!! We gave him the date for December 6th and he said he doesn't like the number 6 lol, so it's the 5th! But the rest of my first day we taught 8 lessons and then we also tracted for 2 hours!! It was a crazy long day! I'm running out of time, so I'll tell some other stuff real quick! Well, on Saturday the church got robbed and they stole the computer and dvd, so we had to go to the police station and do a bunch of stuff! And then on Sunday night we taught a jehovas witness! wowo that was crazy! Umm and then today we went to a wedding of one of our investigators and then to their reception and I was dancing with all the kids, it was wayyy fun!! 

LOVE ELDER BAKER

HAKUNA MATATA!!

at the Legazpi airport

Elder Baker's first companion...Elder Iriabon

Doing the laundry...old school

Taking care of "official business"

Making friends just like Dillon does!

Letting loose and having fun at the wedding reception!


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.