I am going to be serving in a new area with a new missionary! - 12/16/13

Melbourne Mission Moments

Dear Family,

Merry Christmas from Australia!

This past week has been great, other than the fact that I have been sick all week. Sunday night I started feeling not the hottest and by Monday morning I had no voice, a fever, stuffy nose, etc. It lasted ALL week which was really a bummer. But with some extra rest, I was still able to go out and work for at least part of the day every day so that was good. Heavenly Father definitely made up the difference for my being sick and we were able to still see success.

Monday we had Zone P-day. We all went to the chapel and played ultimate frisbee. I wasn't feeling the hottest but I still played and it was fun! Since I was feeling sick, I asked the Elders to give me a blessing. I am so grateful for the Priesthood. I have no doubt that the words of my blessing came directly from Heavenly Father. Lately, I have been feeling a little discouraged and wondering if I was doing enough. We have a mission goal of every companionship having a baptism before the end of the year and that has not happened for Sister Stevenson and me so I was feeling like maybe I wasn't doing enough. Silly me, but sometimes I am too self-critical. I see other missionaries having tons of success and baptizing and I feel like there's something wrong with me and a reason I am failing in one way or another. Anyway, so in my blessing I was told, "Heavenly Father wants you to know that he is pleased with the way you have served Him." Man did the tears flow. That was exactly what I needed to hear. I am doing my best, working hard, and trying to be exactly obedient. And that's all that Heavenly Father asks.

On Wednesday we were able to have a lesson with an investigator. We were supposed to meet her at the chapel but we didn't have a chapel key so we asked if there was somewhere else we could meet. She said we could come to her house. That was huge because until now we haven’t been allowed to come to their house so that was good. We taught her the plan of salvation. She knows so much and she has a testimony. We're really praying to know what we can do to help her make the decision to be baptized. There's a missing link somewhere and we just need to figure out what it is.

Friday night we got to teach the woman from Peru again. We showed her the restoration video in Spanish and it was perfect! She felt the Spirit so strongly. After it was over she said that she knows Joseph Smith was a prophet. Ah, music to my ears. We invited her to be baptized on the 28th of December and she said that if God told her she needed to be baptized, that she would. Unfortunately, she messaged us on Saturday saying that she was really stressed out and wondered if we should just wait until the new year. Uh, NO! That's way too much time for Satan to work on her. So we're hoping to see her this week and help her to receive her answer. 

Saturday we got to do service for some members all day on their farm! It was awesome. There were 10 missionaries there and we worked literally ALL DAY! I love serving!

Sunday Sister Stevenson and I were asked to speak in Sacrament meeting. We really hadn't had time all week to prepare anything so we both only prepared a little Saturday night/Sunday morning. We were supposed to speak about Jesus Christ. I decided to focus my thoughts around The Living Christ. This was the first time I have given a talk without literally writing out the whole thing. And it actually went well! I am so grateful for the opportunities to teach that I have on the mission that have helped me to be more confident in my knowledge of the gospel and made me comfortable talking about it. I love the gospel and I love talking to others about it! 

We got to watch the Christmas Devotional last night which I loved! Made me miss watching it at home with everyone though! They did it quite differently this year than they have in other years but I liked it. I LOVED when Elder Nelson was surrounded by all those adorable little kids singing I'm Trying to be Like Jesus. So cute! Haha I cried all the way through it. Typical Sister Baker. As the Aussies say, I'm such a sook. 

After the Devotional we got home and we had a message from President Maxwell saying he would like to talk to both of us. Ah. Can you say churning stomach and rapid heart rate?! We had no idea why he was calling but as soon as we listened to the message, I knew what he was going to say. So we called him back. He started off by asking me how long I've been in Churchill Park (6 1/2 months). Then he told us that he hated to have to split up such a great companionship but that there are new missionaries coming this week and the Lord would like both of us to train new missionaries. I was SO sad but yet felt at peace at the same time. I am going to be so sad not to spend Christmas with these wonderful people who I love so much but I know that this is what Heavenly Father wants and I know that it will be a good thing. I am going to be serving in Mooroolbark with a new missionary. They have not had Sisters in this ward so I'm hoping that they are SO excited to have us there. It will be a good thing. So yeah. We go get our new missionaries on Wednesday so today and tomorrow are my last days in Churchill Park. 

Crazy huh? 

I am looking forward to this new opportunity. I know that Heavenly Father is very aware of his missionaries and that right now, He needs me to serve in Mooroolbark. I am so grateful for this Christmas season to celebrate the birth of our Savior. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the way that it helps us to do things we would never be able to otherwise do. I love you all so much!

Love, 

Sister Baker xxx