Monday, August 6, 2018 - Miracles and JOY

Our friend ____ is progressing so well!  This week we taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the 10 Commandments, and the Word of Wisdom.  He loved it all.  He struggles with a few problems and says every time he meets with us, prays, attends church, etc. he feels so much better and we are able to see a physical difference in him.  When we taught the WoW he said obviously those things are bad for you and I need to quit smoking anyway.  HE'S SERIOUSLY AMAZING.

We were able to attend a baptismal service with him this week in Dunfirmline and it was amazing.  After the man came up out of the water he leaned over to Sister Hammond and said, "I just felt something."  It only gets better.  He told us it made him so much more excited for his own baptism.  Our Branch also has a temple trip planned for this Saturday.  They invited him to go, just to be on the grounds and at the family history center, and he is so excited.  What a miracle!

The Branch loves ____ and he just fits right in.  There is a lady in the branch that has a hard time walking so she needs a wheelchair or someone to escort her.  When he walked up to church they pulled up in the car.  _____ then escorted her in. What a champ.  She also tried to give him £10 in the middle of sacrament meeting.  It was hilarious.  

This week we were finding and starting talking to this man.  We could not understand a word he was saying and he was just mumbling.  I thought I would just ask him for a referral.  I said, "Do you know anyone that would be interested to learn more about Jesus Christ?"  He shouted back, "ME!"  So we sat down on a bench with him and started teaching.  

I love being a sister.  People give us food all the time.  This past week our Branch Mission Leader brought us enough food to seriously feed a family of 6 for a week.  Another member brought us frozen lasagnes because she couldn't have us over this week.  What a blessing!

I just want to say the Gospel brings joy!  This week I have been feeling so grateful for all the experiences I've had and as I've been reflecting it's just very apparent that all of those experiences bring true joy.  There is no other source of this and it is sweeter than any other thing in the world.  The Gospel bring joy!  I'm so grateful for the time I get to be a missionary.  I thank my Heavenly Father for it every day. 

July 30, 2018

Last p-day we went to Dundee (supposedly the sunniest city in Scotland) and went to Brody Ferry beach.  We met up with 8 other missionaries and played spikeball and frisbee while we were there.  I must say it was interesting wearing sweats to the beach and I hope I never have to do that again - hahha.  It was lots of fun and very beautiful!

We had our zone conference this week in Aberdeen!  On Monday night we took a train to Aberdeen and spent the night with the STLs there.  There were 8 sisters in a very small flat, but it all worked out and everyone was ready on time with only a few minor issues.  Conference was amazing and the Spirit was so strong.  There's nothing better than being in a room full of missionaries to get you energized with the Spirit!

We also had interviews with President this week.  I told him you were from East Carbon (for those reading this - President MacDonald and his wife grew up in nearby Price)  and we shared a moment talking about the wave pool.  He got so excited and said I made his day knowing about the wave pool.  He said that was one of the last things they did before they left.  I told Sister Macdonald and their daughter and they got really excited as well.  

Scottish summer might be gone.   This week it BUCKETED twice.  That might be it.  It's about 16 (60F) right now and it's sprinkling.  I just pray the summer lasts as long as possible.  Everyone has been saying with the really good summer we might get a really bad winter, so I'm bracing myself.

We met ____ this past Wednesday and we were able to teach him on the spot!  He was so ready to learn and open to listening to us.  We also taught him the Plan of Salvation this week.  We read 2 Nephi 2 with him and he was just soaking up the scriptures.  He was pointing out things he liked and asked questions on what didn't make sense.  He said he was excited for judgement!  What!?  Who says that?  He is awesome.  He also came to church this week. 

We also met with a super cool girl named ____!  Her gran is an active member and her mom is less active.  She was really excited to learn because she knows this will be a fresh start for her and it will make her gran happy as well.  She was so appreciative of us taking the time to teach her as well.  It was amazing and very rewarding to be able to teach someone who was so sincere.  

 

Monday, July 23, 2018 - Hello Perth (Scotland - not Australia)

So last Tuesday morning I took a train to Edinburgh with Sister Cheatham.  There we had a meeting with all the trainees and then the trainees joined us.  We had more instruction with them and then we practiced roleplay teaching.  I was with Sister Hammond who was then assigned to be my companion about 20 minutes later!  It's funny because that's the same thing that happened with me and Sister Scheib.  After we went to have dinner and about 2 bites in we were told we had to leave to catch a train.  We shoved some pizza in our mouths, our luggage into a van, and we got dropped off at the train station.  There was traffic, so we were late for our train.  We missed it and had to take another one an hour later.  Luckily AN ANGEL FROM THE BRANCH WAS AT THE TRAIN STATION TO PICK US UP.  I have no idea how we would have managed with 6 suitcases (1 broken one) and a 40 minute walk with no idea where we were going.   

SISTER HAMMOND.  She's a cute red head from Farmington and is great.  She is really excited to be here.  She is amazing and will be a great teacher.  We've been able to teach quite a few on the spot lessons this week.

PERTH BRANCH:  So Perth Branch has an active membership of about 25.  They make any ward/branch look really young.  No youth, one family, and the average age is about 65.  We bring it down a bit.  They are all really lovely people though and we had 3 dinner appointments this week.  They are excited to have sisters in their area again - no sisters have been there in over a year. 

PERTH:  Perth is a smaller city center, so we spend a lot of time GQing again.  It's next to a really pretty river called the River Tay.  I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of it this week, but I'll repent.  We don't have a car, but we have 2 feet and buses!  We're hopefully settling down more and I can tell you more about everything next week.

Funny from the week:  We had lunch with all the trainees.  When I walked in the room for lunch one of them said, "SISTER BAKER!"  I was a little taken back and then she said, "I READ  YOUR BLOG."  It was so funny and she started asking about some things from my blog haha.

Another funny:  At church we were greeting people and this little Scottish lady walked through the door (with assistance from another member).  We introduced ourselves and she told me I had lovely teeth.  She then said, "I don't have any teeth" and she showed me her gums.  It was hilarious.  She was probably like 90.  hahhaha

Monday, July 16, 2018

Sister Anderson and I had a great week. We were able to receive a referral from our Ward Mission Leader and set up an appointment with the man to be able to teach him. He just lost his father and he said that while he was talking with us, he felt something hit him in the back of his heart strings. What a miracle! We've been working with the ward really hard to encourage them to share the gospel and especially the Book of Mormon.  He was able to share the Book of Mormon and a plan of Salvation pamphlet.

We were also able to teach ____ this week.  He loved learning about the Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  He came to church this week and got a lift from our Ward Mission Leader and his wife.  It was great to see him walk in, dressed in a suit, and sit with members!  

The thing you've probably been wondering about:  MOVES CALL.  So, on Saturday at about 7, we got our call.  Sister Anderson was told that she was staying.  I was told that I would be moving to Perth.  I would also be the first sister team since I was in the mission.  I am also going to be training a new missionary!  I'm really excited for this transfer, but very sad to leave Sister Anderson.

Love you lots!  Sorry, not too much time.  

Monday, July 9, 2018

 On Tuesday we got to meet President and Sister Macdonald [new mission president and wife] for a brief conference.  We didn't get interviews this transfer, but next transfer I'm sure EC/Price will be a good portion of our time.  After conference we drove home and got to work.  A few weeks ago we chapped into a man that didn't express a lot of interest and said he was struggling a lot with his health. We were able to give him a Book of Mormon and we left.  I had the impression that we needed to go back to this man and see how he was doing. He was home and started reading with the introduction and the testimonies. He expressed a little more interest and we set up an appointment with him to come back to teach him. When the lesson came he had read to 1 Nephi 14 and said, "There's no doubt that it's true." It was amazing to see the change in his attitude and we can't wait to teach him again this week.  He also accepted to be baptized on 11 August.  We are so excited for him!

ALSO ON TUESDAY:  At conference they put all the mail in bins sorted by zone and looking through I got a package.  What was it?  Only the best thing in the world.  I ripped it open and every Elder in sight looking longing at my American package (but most of them bought American tartan ties to wear).  I love America.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ONE AND ALL.  WHAT A BLESSING THAT WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND WE GET TO ENJOY ALL OF OUR FREEDOMS.  We tried to be as American as we could on the 4th.  For lunch we had British Kraft Mac n Cheese, cheetos, some American sweets from Sister Anderson's mom, etc.  We slept in our wonderful 4th of July shirts and proselyted in red, white, and blue outfits.  Our Ward Mission Leader had us over for dinner that night.  We had kebobs, burgers, watermelon, corn on the cob, etc.  It was great.  I'm not going to lie, I did shed a tear or two missing America.  We also listened to the Star Spangled Banner on repeat all day.  

Yesterday we felt like we should visit a less active that neither of us had met, but we had heard of. We called her and at first she said no because she wasn't feeling well, but she needed her dishes done. We jumped on the opportunity and when we got there she told us she had had a horrible day.  Her son was killed in a hit and run about 4 years ago and she really struggles with that.  As we were sharing a scripture with her there was a knock on her door. It was her ministers (formerly known as visiting teachers) ! It was amazing to see how the Spirit prompted all of us to visit her in her time of need. God truly loves all of His children.  It was great to be able to serve her and lend a listening ear in her time of need.

Monday, July 2, 2018 - Please help Yourself

This week it was so hot!  We were loving the heat.  It's been so nice.  When I say hot I mean it got up to 35 (celsius) this week.  Toasty!

____ and ____ were able to come to church again this week.  After church there was a baptism for an 8 year old in our ward.  ____'s daughter begged her to stay so they could see it.  Unfortunately, ____ had to leave because their other daughter was sick.  ____ loved the baptism.  She said it was really emotional for her and that those feelings came from the Holy Ghost!  We are so excited because that's something we've really been focusing on with her.  Another miracle!

This week we were able to do service for a family in the ward that is moving and just had a baby.  We were trying to put a bunk bed together for them and move some stuff in.  It was so difficult!  No one said how hard it was to put a bunk bed together from IKEA.  The instructions were horrible and we almost figured out the whole thing hahha.  It was also SO HOT while we were trying to help them.  That day it was 35 and we were in our jeans in a house with no air conditioning (because no one has air conditioning in Scotland).  But we were happy to help them.  Especially because one of their other kids got chicken pox this week!

In Oban this week we found the box that said, "Books - please help yourself!"  So what did we do?  Grabbed a Book of Mormon and put it in there.  It was like someone else was doing missionary work for us.  We thought it was the perfect opportunity.  Also the BEST WAY TO HELP YOURSELF.

We had exchanges this week in Glasgow as well.  I got to be with Sister Lopez from Ecuador.  It was fun and we bonded over Peru hahha.  It's always great to be on exchange because you learn so much from each missionary. 

I love the 4th of July.  Please enjoy it 742897x more this year for me.  I have my outfit planned, complete with my navy skirt and a red and white stripped shirt.  I'll probably be doing my nails red tonight because I don't think I have time/the materials to do flags this year :(

Monday, June 25, 2018

My joke of the week:  Why did the missionary cross the road?  (answer at bottom)

Well we had a great week.  On Tuesday we had All Scotland Conference in Edinburgh, so we drove down for that.  It was our last conference with President Donaldson and we all said some tender goodbyes.  I'm definitely very grateful for him and Sister Donaldson.  Conference was also great because we were able to skype and have a question/answer session with Elder and Sister Bednar.  It was amazing to have the chance to do that.  He put a large emphasis on learning from the Spirit rather than what was being shared.  I'm grateful for him and his insights, but most importantly the Spirit he brought! 

As sad as we are to have the Donaldsons leave, we are even more excited to have the MacDonalds come this week.  We have a conference again on the 3rd, so we'll get to meet them then!

____ and ____ are doing well.  They are both still excited to go to church and meet with us!  This week we were able to read the Tree of Life with them and talk about the importance of the Book of Mormon.  It really made sense to them the imagery of holding to the rod of iron.  Unfortunately, they had to leave church early because their baby was just throwing an absolute fit and they couldn't get her to calm down.   That's okay though because MIRACLES HAPPEN PEOPLE!

9 MONTHS OUT.  It honestly doesn't feel that much different from any other day, but I have completed half of my mission.  It is so fun to have 9 months of wonderful, tough memories to look back on.  I feel like I have met so many people that will forever be in my heart.  This mission and the people here definitely have my heart.  I couldn't think of a place I'd rather be in the whole world.  I love the Scotland/Ireland Mission.  9 months down and 9 months.  Everyone says it's a downhill slide from here, but really I still have so much mission left!  What a blessing.   I truly mean it every morning when I bounce out of bed and say, "Woohoo!  Today is a great day to be a missionary!"  Here's to 9 more wonderful months! 

Answer (to above joke):  Because her companion did.