7.29.13

So this week in missionary work: Last Monday Sis. Aamodt and I took an adventure to Nampa for a change of P-day scenery. It was a lot of fun. We went to this grocery store called WinCo that is awesome and super cheap. They have all of these bulk bins like the ones at Sprouts but with like a million more options. So we had a blast in there. It is a good day when I get to play with food :). On Tuesday we taught the Day family about faith and repentance. They are an amazing family. They are planning to be baptized on August 17th. I am so excited because they each have such genuine faith in Christ and a desire to be an eternal family. We have also been visiting with/doing service for a woman in Parma named Jen. I think I have talked about her before, but I am not sure. She is having a really hard time with some serious challenges in her life. She is really a strong and amazing person but really needs prayers at this time. We are doing all we can to help her and to help her to rely on the Lord and the Gospel to help her through this. I know that we all face trials in this life and that everyone's trials are different, but whatever these challenges are the Savior and His gospel can help. It is truly an amazing thing.  Brandon is doing well, he is reading and praying and working on developing his faith. We are excited to continue teaching him and helping him to feel the spirit so that his little testimony can grow. I know that this gospel brings happiness, I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and yours. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. No matter what, trust in the Lord and serve him in all that you do and He will bring greater blessings than you ever imagined. I love you!!

7.22.13

So we received transfer calls on Saturday. I am staying in Parma with Sis Aamodt. Our area has split and we are losing the Vale wards as well as the Owyhee ward and they are placing elders in that area. This makes me pretty sad because I really have grown to love the people of those wards. Glen is a member of the Owyhee ward and I am really sad that I will not be able to see him through to baptism. Sister Aamodt and I were discussing Glen and his progress the other day, however, and were saying that we felt that we were not "his missionaries" and that it would take a different set to help him to finally be prepared for baptism. We visited with him for the last time yesterday and shared Matthew 16 with him. He is very inspired by the Apostle Peter. We also showed him the Bible Video that goes with that scripture. It was a really neat lesson. He is very in tune with the spirit and I know that he will be a wonderful member and participant in Christ's Gospel. 

This week we also visited with a 90 year-old gentleman who recently lost his wife. He is not a member (his wife is) and will not listen to the lessons but he enjoys the spirit that we bring. He loves his wife dearly and wants so badly to be with her, but he will not accept the gospel. He is very sweet though and my heart just hurts for him. He has told us countess stories of his life growing up during thee depression and serving in WWII and marrying his sweetheart and building her a house from scratch. I love little old men and I especially love Karl. 

Overall it has been a pretty good week. We also started teaching a 13 year-old boy named Brandon. Brandon decided a few months ago that he doesn't believe in God because there is no evidence. SO last night we began teaching him about our Heavenly Father and His love for us. we will be going back tonight to teach about faith. As we taught and shared our personal experiences, we could see his little heart softening and seeking the truth. This is the miracle of missionary work. It is amazing to see the spirit touch and change hearts and lives. 

I am so blessed to be serving the Lord and serving his wonderful children here. I know that hard times come. Believe me, I know. But I am learning to let go of my stubborn need to always be in control, and allow the Lord to take the lead in my life. I know that he is mindful and he is blessing each of us in ways that we do not even realize. This week at district meeting our zone leader shared a quote "there is no growth in the comfort zone and there is no comfort in the growth zone" and that is the gospel truth! I know that the Lord is helping me to become who he wants me to be.

7.15.13

Sister Baker has not been feeling well this week, so she didn't have too much of an update. She would appreciate letters from all of you though! Her address is different than before because she is now in the Nampa mission instead of the Boise mission.

Sister Madison Baker
Idaho Nampa Mission
1008 W Sanetta St
Nampa Id 83651

madison.baker@myldsmail.net

Send her your love!

7.8.13

Hello friends and family!

So, this week was the 4 of July and the world famous Vale 4th of July Rodeo. We didn't get to go, but it was a big freaking deal. There was loads of drama about the rodeo queen who was not even from Malheur County... believe me, that is all I heard about at church yesterday. But because of the holiday and the rodeo, NO ONE was home this week. On the 4th we spent the great majority of our day visiting people at the old folks home (captive audience). It was great. Our curfew was at 7 so we cooked a good dinner for our selves. I made cilantro lime chicken tacos. They were pretty tasty. SO thats what sister missionaries do on 4th of july. Also I made an apple pie. It turned out great.

We are currently teaching this 16 year old girl named Kea. She is awesome. Last night we went to visit her and she asked us some amazing questions. She wanted to know how our religion was similar and different from the Jewish religion (she is not Jewish, just curious.) and also how the priesthood was established and restored, which brought up the topic of resurrected beings. It was a pretty cool lesson. She is so hungry for the gospel and for knowledge about the gospel. She wants to be baptized but her parents will not let her until she is 18. It amazes me that she is so convicted and becoming so converted with so much opposition. The Lord really does bless those who seek him. 

This past Saturday we had another baptism for a man named Bill Ussing. He has special needs so his parents did not have him baptized when he was 8. He asked to be baptized about a year ago and has been working with the bishop and stake president. We got to teach him the lessons and it was a really neat experience. He cannot speak well but as we taught we could see the understanding in his eyes. It was amazing to be allowed to work with one of the Lord's special spirits. The baptism was really sweet. It was more like a primary baptism which was just perfect. 

It is halfway through the transfer/there are two weeks left because it is a short one. I think I may be training another new sister next transfer because we are getting another big group of them and I am one of the oldest sisters (yeah, at 4 months out I am one of the old ones. It is like the blind leading the blind out here.) but I may end up staying together with Sister Aamodt for another transfer. Guess we will see what the Lord has in store.

Parma and the surrounding areas have been pretty warm and a little muggy because all of the crops hold the moisture. It is really beautiful here with all of the grain turning a golden color and the corn growing really tall. It is neat to experience rural life and appreciate a different type of beauty. We have AC in our house, but most people do not have central air or any AC at all. It is pretty uncomfortable. I have not been to the new mission home yet, but hope I will get to soon. We had a conference with about half the mission and got to learn all about the new President and Sister Cannon including his love for basketball! We had interviews with him last Wednesday where I learned that Stephen Hopper had been his MTC tutor and had told him all about me. He said that he had hoped and prayed that I would be in his mission and was so glad that I was. It is a small world and the Lord knows exactly who and what we need. We have become fast friends. He is not immediately related to the previous President Cannon but they both hail from George Q. 

It is so fun to hear all about the Tempe West sisters receiving mission calls! The work is hastening! 

The work continues to move forward here in the Nyssa Stake. I love this calling and am so privileged to be serving the Lord here in Oregon (and a little bit of Idaho). It is hard, but it is so worth it. Life is good. Blessings are abundant as long as I remember to trust in my Savior. 

I love you and pray for you daily. Have a wonderful week!!

7.1.13

Brother Green's baptism was this week. It was awesome. He is such a changed man. We got to the church about 30 minutes early to find that the font filler had forgotten to fill the font. That was funny. We turned the water on and ushered the members into a different room for the opening and talks. It, by some miracle was full by the time we were ready for the actual baptism. It was a really special service despite the stress at the beginning though. Sister Dickey came to give a talk and we even happened to be matching. It was great to see her and hear about her experiences. I sang after he was dunked and the RSP gave a talk on the holy ghost. He bore a neat testimony at the end. It really has been a good week, albeit a long one! 
Love you! 

Sister Baker and her new mission presidents