Monday, March 26, 2018 - Are you Sisters? Why, yes.

I LOVE SISTER ANDERSON.  She is so much fun and we are constantly laughing.  Also so many people on the street ask if we are twins/sisters.  I don't think we look that much alike, but it's the dark hair.  It's great though, because then we say YES WE ARE SISTERS, MISSIONARIES.  HAHAHAHA we think we're pretty clever.   We get along so well and she is a great missionary.  She is also a great reminder of how much a good attitude influences our work!  We also get to take turns driving, so now you only have to worry about me driving on the wrong side of the road half of the time.  She drove last transfer as well, so she's not new like I was.  

I love seeing how people have been prepared.  This week we bumped into a man named ____ that said in the past he had bumped into missionaries.  He took their number, but had never contacted them.  He also mentioned about how about 10 years ago he was going through a hard time and someone gave him a Book of Mormon with their testimony in it.  We were able to set up an appointment with him and we are excited to be able to help those who have planted seeds in the past to harvest!  It truly is amazing how God prepares His children!  

One thing that is really frustrating at the time, but hilarious to look back on is the misconceptions that people have about us.  A man we met this past week said, "Oh Mormons?  You're weird.  John Smith found the copper plates in the desert, lost them, and then rewrote the story."  Sister Anderson and I had a good laugh about that one.

Our investigators are doing well!  ____ is so excited for his baptism on the 7th.  He talks about it all the time.  Yesterday he was telling people at church how his baptism is in a week on Saturday.  It will be great for him and for his family to be able to come and witness it!

____ is good as well!  She wasn't able to come to church this week because they were having a birthday party for her daughter.  She enjoys reading the Book of Mormon and was so happy to be able to have it in Hungarian.  

In Dumbarton we are more able to teach in people's homes.  We meet in a cafe if we can't get a member to come along with us (normally the 1st lesson).  We get to move around more in Dumbarton because there are a lot of little towns we can go to.  We normally stay in the town centres in Dumbarton or Helensburgh.  

This week in Oban it POURED.  I have never been more wet in my life.  When we stepped out of the car we didn't have our hoods on.  By the time we were able to put our hoods on it wasn't even worth it because we were already that soaked.  They rain didn't lighten up all day and we were drenched.  Every step was like stepping in a puddle because of our wet shoes, my hair was matted to my head, the only dry spot on my was under my coat that didn't get soaked through.  My planner got soaked, as did every pass along card we had, but luckily not my scriptures.  We still made the most of it and a recent convert up there bought us lunch, so I can't complain about that.  That day was supposedly the start of Spring and every person we talked to told us happy Spring ahhahahha.  Welcome to Scotland.  

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.  I am so grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and for the promise of resurrection.  Jesus Christ knows each one of us and cares for us deeply.  No matter what we do, no matter who we are HE IS ALWAYS THERE.  2 Nephi 28:32.

Monday, March 19, 2018 - This week was good!

MOVES CALL:  Saturday night rolls around and we get a call from the AP's at about 9:30.  "Alright Sisters, are you ready for your moves call?.....Oh hold on your zone leader is calling me."  *hangs up*  WHAT  He called back about 5 minutes later THE SUSPENSE WAS KILLER.  Sister Davis and I were literally screaming at the phone.  We were told that Sister Davis would be leaving and I would be staying in Dumbarton!  Sis Davis is whitewashing into Montrose, Scotland with SIS SCHEIB.  Love her.  I get to be with Sister Anderson.  She has been out 9 months and is from just outside San Diego, California.  She is so fun and I'm super excited for this transfer.  It will be a quick one though, only 4 weeks!

Miracles from this week:  

____, our friend that should've been baptised last transfer is amazing.  He loves studying the Book of Mormon and has read it two and a half times already.  He already knows it so well and makes all of these amazing connections with the Bible.  It's insane how much he knows.  He will be baptised on the 7th of April and his family will be there!

Our friend _____, who was previously taught by missionaries came to church yesterday.  She loved it so much and brought her 7 year old daughter with her and she loved it too!  She made all these amazing comments in gospel principles and relief society too!  ALSO EVEN MORE OF A MIRACLE:  When they walked in our bishop's 7 year old daughter said hi to ____ and _____.  THEY DO A THING CALLED BEAVERS TOGETHER (I think it's like girl scouts?)  They already knew each other and BOOM instant friends and fellowshippers.  SO COOL.  

In Oban, a man who got baptized took us to lunch and we had fish n chips for the first time my whole mission!  It was really sweet of him.  After that Sister Davis was feeling sick again, so we went back to the house for the rest of the day.  I did a lot of studying and we were able to watch Mormon Messages on the senior couple's laptop.  One, was so crazy!  It was on keeping the Sabbath Day holy and we watched it and it showed a family walking into church together.  We watched it and then in unison we yelled, "IS THAT THE GALLACHERS?!?!?!?"  We went back and it was a family in our ward walking into our chapel!!!  It was so strange to see people we knew IN OUR AREA in a Mormon Message!  

Our St. Paddy's day was spent visiting some people, teaching, finding, etc.  We had no celebrations.  The country didn't really celebrate either.  The missionaries in Ireland had to be in before 6.  The best part of St. Paddy's day was definitely our DA.  It was with a Sister in our ward from America and she got your recipe for chicken noodle soup!  It was GOOD.

Monday, March 12, 2018

SO MANY GOOD THINGS HAPPENED THIS WEEK.

We were able to meet with a man that we taught for about 10 minutes on the spot.  When we met him he said he didn't believe in God, but we've been in touch with him and he said that a few times this week he has been prompted to pray and he has received some answers!   

We were also able to FINALLY meet with a woman that we have been contacting for about 4 weeks.  I was going through our Area Book and found her name and information.  I called her and we were able to set up an appointment with her.  Yesterday she told us about how she felt there was a hole in her life and how she thinks that can be filled with religion.  She also expressed her desire to raise her 7 year old with faith in God.  She said they will definitely be coming to church next Sunday and her daughter was really excited about it!  

ALSO got to celebrate Sister Davis' 20th birthday!  We had a dinner appointment with an American and she made her a cake.  We also had a lesson with a recent convert and the whole time no one mentioned anything about her birthday, but as we were leaving she brought out a cake and we all sang happy birthday to her!  It was a really sweet moment!

Recently I have been studying in 3 Nephi when Jesus Christ comes to the Americas.  This is what He says.

3 Nephi 17:7 

Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

I love how much compassion He has for each person individually.  I testify that the offer He gives in that scripture still stands.  He is waiting for us to come to Him and HE WILL HEAL US.  He loves each of us so much!  I am so grateful for my Savior.

Monday, March 5, 2018 - "Are you the angels of mercy?"

SCOTLAND IS SHUT DOWN.  The world seemed to be in a panic.  No one drove for a few days.  Everyone was walking to the store and buying all their food.  There was actually a "bread crisis" here a few days ago.  It did snow quite a lot though.  All the way up to our knees, so I'll give them a little break.  Scotland is definitely not equipped to handle the snow.  There were a couple plows out, but no one did anything about their own snow.  Most people don't even have a shovel!  If they do, it was a garden shovel.  We saw a lot of people that were shoveling with dust pans.  It was so sad to watch. I think Dumbarton go the worst of it.  Our district leader, in Motherwell, said they only had about 4 inches.   

Church was cancelled...kinda... so across the whole stake church was cancelled because all the reports still said not to drive.  Part of our ward (the part within walking distance) was given permission to gather at someone's home.  We went there and had the sacrament and a little testimony meeting.  It was nice.  

We did not go up to Oban this week.  Monday we just ran a bunch of errands.  Tuesday we had Scotland South Conference in Edinburgh.  The snow was starting on the way back from Edinburgh and we (the two of us and President) decided it would be best if we didn't go to Oban this week.  GOOD CALL.  On Wednesday the country was on red alert and all mission vehicles were grounded.  We would've been stuck in Oban for days, not being able to do ANYTHING!  

It snowed Tuesday night, all of Wednesday, most of Thursday and then decided to quit.  It was pretty crazy.  Sister Davis was sick all week.  We didn't work a full day until yesterday.  It was good timing to get sick though because there were no people out and about and it made missionary work kinda difficult.

Yesterday we decided that our time would best be used shoveling drives.  After our little church service we borrowed "good snow shovels" from one of the members.  Tiny, little things, but they were sturdy.  We walked around and if we saw someone shoveling or if we saw a driveway that hadn't been done we did it.  We ended up shoveling for about 5 hours and lets just say my shoulder feels like I just threw 7 innings after a long winter season......

It was so wonderful to be able to serve though!  We tried to help one man and he said, "No, go do that house over there.  They need their car dug out."  So we went and started doing it.  We were working for a while when an elderly man came out and said, "Are you the angels of mercy?"  He explained that he was too old to shovel and his wife had a heart attack last year and they couldn't do it.  They were also saying how worried they were about how they were going to get their car out of the snow because she had a doctor's appointment the next day!  It was so nice to be able to help them and be an answer to prayer.  We also helped another man who had Parkinson's.  He was shoveling (with the help of two neighbors with their dust pans).  We walked up and started helping.  They said, "Are you good Samaritans?"  It was so wonderful to be able to help these people this past week!

A NOTE TO FRIENDS/RECENT CONVERTS IN IRELAND:  Sister missionaries are not allowed to e-mail with members of the opposite sex during their missions.  You can be sure Sister Baker will keep up with you and follow your progress through sister members and other missionaries for the next year.  ☘

Monday, February 26, 2018

This week is apparently supposed to be FREEZING.  There is an arctic vortex that is supposed to go straight over Scotland.  That means lots of snow this week and the highs will be below freezing.  So PRAY FOR THE MISSIONARIES WHO WILL BE OUTSIDE IN THAT WEATHER FOR 11 HOURS EVERY DAY.  Other than that this should be a really good week. 

In Oban and Dumbarton we usually just GQ during the day and chap at night.  We do that because there aren't enough people out and about at night.  In Oban sometimes we don't have to chap, but it depends on the night.  

This past week in Oban we found two new investigators!  That is HUGE for the area and we were super excited.  One we met and asked "What makes you happy?"  He said "would you like to hear about the last 6 weeks of my life?"  YIKES.  Generally that is a very bad sign.  He told us all of the horrible things that have happened to him in the last six weeks.  We invited him to learn more about the gospel and he accepted.  We sat down with him right then and taught him.  He was extremely grateful that we prayed for him at the start of the lesson.  That stuck with him.  He expressed his gratitude to us during the lesson and later that night he texted us about it.  It was amazing to watch this man's heart soften as we were able to talk with him.  We are excited to meet with him again and help him find healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  

The members here are awesome and they feed us every night.  We challenged the members to come up with a family mission plan for how they can do member missionary work, so hopefully referrals will start coming in.  They are always willing to help us teach and they invite our friends to Sunday dinners!  It's great.   

It is definitely not as diverse here as Ireland.  Maybe that's because we aren't in cities.  We mostly talk to Scottish people, but we have two appointments scheduled for this week with people from Spain.  

I'm a little bummed out that I won't be in Ireland on Saint Patrick's day, but fun fact:  St. Patrick was Scottish and was apparently born somewhere around Dumbarton!  Also the missionaries probably aren't allowed to work that night anyway, so I think I got the better end of the deal!

Sicknesses have come and gone, so all is well.  I was able to keep down food on Monday and my stomach was back to normal on Tuesday.  I got the package and BEST.GIFT.EVER.  I love it.  I love having a blanket again.  Nothing better than coming home and wrapping yourself in your blanket instead of your duvet!  Also I opened it at District Meeting (that's where is was given to me) and all the missionaries were super jealous. 

Sisters Conference/Feeling Rocky

Sisters' Conference [in Edinburgh] was super fun.  We had instruction, some workshops, yoga, lunch, every sister introduced herself, and we closed with a message from President Donaldson.  I think one of the best parts of conference was getting to drive to and from Edinburgh with Sister Gregson.  She is the best.  It was so fun to get to see all the sisters (about 60) together as well. 

We drive through Loch Lomond National Forest to get to Oban.  It was really beautiful from what I could see from the drive.  Sister Davis said that President had to put a ban on missionaries in other areas visiting Loch Lomond because they were spending too much money to get there.  So we are probably some of the lucky few missionaries who will actually get to see it/visit it.  

So I still don't know much about my two areas.  We have only been to Oban once so far.  We live in an old Victorian home where the senior couple stays.  They also have two areas, so we are there when they are not.  In Dumbarton we just have a little flat (about 3904285902720x nicer than the Dublin flat).    I did buy a new waterproof coat so I won't freeze.

This was a rough week health wise.  On Wednesday we went out and worked until lunch, then I was dying and we had to stay in.  Friday we had exchanges with the STLs in Glasgow, which was super fun.  It was nice to be back in a big city for a day!  On Saturday Sister Davis woke up sick and so we had to stay in.  Saturday night I spent throwing up all through the night.  I tried to get ready for church yesterday morning and threw up again.  No fun.  I'm feeling pretty rocky today but not as bad as Saturday. I haven't had anything to eat in the last 40 hours or so, so we'll see how eating goes hahhaaha.

Report on first week in Scotland

MOVES:  I don't really know why, but for some reason I have a 6th sense about moves call.  I really felt that I would be going to Glasgow zone, so I was not surprised at all when we got the call.  

ACCENT:  I have to actively listen to every person I talk to because the accent is so thick and I just got used to the Irish accent.  Very different.  They also don't use the same lingo, so I'm trying to adjust to that.  I miss some of the Irish sayings.   

CURRENCY:  Still not really sure how much a pound is.  Don't really know how much money I'm actually spending when I buy something.

FOOD:  Pretty much the same, but no Boojum :(

WARD:  We had Stake Conference yesterday, so I don't really know how the ward is. From what I have seen they're great.  They have fed us every day we've been in Dumbarton.  We had a proper Sunday dinner yesterday with about 15 people in this one family.  It was great.  They are really willing to help us.  

WEATHER:  It's a lot colder here.  Today we are going to Glasgow to buy a new *waterproof* coat because it pretty much rains/snows everyday here.  I will probably also buy boots because they get soaked through, so I'll need to alternate them. 

COMPANION:  Sister Davis is from Provo.  We were in the same group, but in different districts in the MTC so we didn't really know each other.  She also went to BYU last year.  She's super fun.

DRIVING:  We drive loads.  It's super fun.  It's not too weird driving on the other side.  Roundabouts are weird though.  I don't need an international license yet.  I can drive on my American one for a year and then I have to take a UK test to be able to drive after that.  My comp doesn't have an American license, so I'm the only one driving!  It's fun.  It actually feels pretty natural to drive on the other side (because you are driving in the other side of the car).  We've been doing a lot of driving too.  It's a 2 hour drive to Oban.  Drove back from Oban.  Drove to Glasgow (30 minutes) for Stake Conference on Saturday and Sunday.  Driving to Glasgow today to buy a new coat.  Driving to Edinburgh tomorrow for sister's conference.

MISSIONARY WORK:  We have one investigator right now.  His name is ____.  Sis Davis found him two transfers ago and they could never figure out a time to meet with him.  When they did, they found out that he had read the Book of Mormon before.  He studied theology and has studied pretty much every religious book known to man. After they taught the first lesson he was like "oh so I just have to pray about it to know if it's true?"  Before the second lesson he had read the Book of Mormon again and prayed about it.  He received a witness and is now getting baptised on Saturday.  We are super excited for him.  I am grateful to just be walking into his baptism.  He is quite literally the definition of golden.  It also made me feel a little better about leaving ____ (our golden investigator) in Dublin.   

Other than that we don't really have any investigators yet.  We will be working very hard in the next couple of weeks to find new people to teach.  It's definitely different than Dublin - a lot smaller and we have to chapp houses at night.