14 October 2013
Talofa Family!
Well, I had another great week. I feel like so much happened this
week that I don't even know where to start.
On Monday we went to Bishop's house for dinner and FHE with their
family. We have a really great Bishop here who is so encouraging of the work
and who is definitely on our side. After that we went to see a girl that we had
met tracting. She was there and waiting for us. We were able to talk with her
and found out that she has had some really big trials and challenges in the
past two years. You could just see the hurt in her eyes. We were able to teach
her about prayer and about the atonement and the healing and hope that it
brings. It was such a good lesson and the spirit was so strong. We are hoping
to see her again soon.
On Tuesday we had interviews with President Maxwell. I love him so
much. Seriously, he is such an incredible man. He has this humble dignity that
he carries everywhere and truly just emanates love. Any time we get to meet
with him is a blessing. He gave me some wonderful counsel and encouragement. We
also had a meeting with the APs so they could find out about how our area was
doing. We’ve had some disappointments lately, but I'm just praying really
really hard and Heavenly Father has really helped me. I've been able to turn them
over to him and my heart doesn't feel heavy. I feel hopeful and trust that
Heavenly Father has a plan for everything/everyone. So now I just have to be
patient.
Tuesday night we taught a man who is amazing! We taught him the
restoration and he absolutely loved it. He said if he got an answer that it was
true that he would get baptized. We are teaching him again tonight and will
hopefully set a solid baptismal date with him.
Wednesday we went to see a woman who is 75 and lives in a nursing
home. She was so happy to see us and we just sat and talked with her for a
while. She was so excited when we told her that we could have them bring the
sacrament to her every week. Before we left she said the sweetest prayer in which
she said, "Thank you for bringing my people back to me."
On Thursday we had Golden Review at the mission office which is
another meeting for the Goldens and the Trainers where President and the APs
just go over some things and then there are trainings given. My companion and I
got to give a training on Lesson Planning. It went really well. Lesson planning
is something that is so important. Like it says in D&C 11:21, we have to
prepare before we can teach. Sometimes the Spirit tells you to take a completely
different route than what you planned but as we make plans and study, that is
showing Heavenly Father that we are willing to do our part so that we are
worthy of having the spirit. I know that this is true with any teaching. I
loved Elder McConkie's talk from conference about teaching. It was so
good.
A funny thing happened on Thursday. After we left our last
appointment and got in the car to head home, we found out that not one but BOTH
of our headlights had burned out. Haha, it was crazy. We had to drive the whole
way home with our high-beams on. I felt bad for all of the cars that we were
passing. We were laughing about it though. Also guess what, on Monday
night while we were driving home from our Bishops, a kangaroo hoped across the
road right in front of our car. It was crazy!
On Friday we had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. We
had a really good day. Sister W was so fun and such a good example
and I learned a lot from her. The highlight of the day was that evening when we
visited a family in their ward. We had planned to teach their sons that just
got baptized but when we got there it was clear that this dear sister needed
us. She has been having some real struggles and challenges lately. I had
studied about hope that morning and I was really grateful for that because it
was exactly the message that she needed to hear. As we left, I felt so grateful
that Heavenly Father trusts us enough to use us to answer someone’s prayers.
On Saturday and Sunday we got to watch General Conference! Oh my
goodness, so many blessings. We are so blessed to have a living prophet and
apostles on the earth today! They show General Conference at the chapel at
10:00 and 2:00. There were not many people there on Saturday or Sunday
afternoon but Sunday morning had a really good turnout. Hopefully the members
have been watching or listening or reading the talks at home. This conference
was one of the best that I can remember. Ah, I don't even know where to begin.
Every talk was so good. I loved the talks about missionary work and how the
members and the missionaries HAVE to work together. I also really loved Elder
Nelson's talk from Sunday afternoon. I loved how he talked about Self-mastery.
That is something I have really been trying to work on. I also really felt like
they talked a lot about the important role of women as mothers and the inherent
traits that we have especially as women. I felt overwhelmingly that being on a
mission is preparing me for my future responsibilities as a wife and a mother.
I wish I had time to tell you all the things that I loved and learned. Also,
guess what? When Elder Vinson spoke I didn't even notice the accent! It was
crazy. I can't believe that I have become that accustomed to it. He didn't
sound any different than anyone else to me. I guess that I am accustomed to
both the American and Australian accent. Funny, huh?
Also, we aren't able to go to the gym every morning now. Everyone
is really tight on Ks and we only have 1600 for the month so we don't have
enough to drive there in the mornings. Sad, but it will be okay. We have feet
and footpaths around our flat so that will have to be good enough.
Some Aussies celebrate Halloween but it's not very big here. Our
ward is having a trunk-or-treat that night which should be fun. Haha but it's
funny because here in Australia they don't even call it a trunk. They call it a
boot.
Phillip- sounds like your area just got huge. But that's a
blessing. The bigger it is the more people there are. And the more people there
are the more people you get to talk to. The more people you get to talk to the
more you get to teach. So really it's a blessing. :) I'm glad your Spanish is
getting better every day. I pray for you daily. And you're right. I don't
believe that you have gained weight.
Well, I love you all. I am so grateful to be a missionary at this
specific time. I know the church is true and that the Lord truly is hastening
his work.
Love y'all heaps!
Love y'all heaps!
Alofa atu!
Sister Baker xxx
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