Sandor’s Desert Sojourn

  • Talent Shows, Castles and the Good Ol’ Red White & Blue 🙂

    Cześć friends and family!! Well, it’s been another GREAT couple of weeks in Poznań!! I’m so grateful to be here in this beautiful city!! Yesterday I was out of town doing legal work so my preparation day got moved to today! Here’s a couple highlights: TALENT SHOWS!! One of the things I love about Poznań…

  • Skyping Siostras / Nuns on Parade 😉

    This week has been a great one. I think something I have really been recognizing is growth this week. In myself, and in the people we are teaching! It has been such a good week!! Friends we’re teaching:   – We’ve officially started doing skype lessons with some of the people we’re teaching!! On Sunday we…

  • Nie ma za CO!

    Hej cześć friends and fam! I hope you all have had a good one!! 🙂 This week: -We had exchanges with the Bydgoszcz sister missionaries and I got to be with Siostra Miller all day!!  It was a total blast!! -This week we had our LAST Zone Conference with Prezydent and Siostra Turek.  They are…

  • HAPPY FATHERS DAY ❤

    Hejka cześć!! Hope you all have had a wonderful week! First off, I have to say HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all the fathers and wonderful fatherly figures out there!! You are so loved!! I am so grateful for my dad and for the amazing example he is to me!! I want to be just like…

  • 5ks and Chalk talks 🙂

    Hej cześć friends and fam!! Hope you all have had a wonderful week!!  Here’s a couple highlights of this week: This week we also got to volunteer at Parkrun, an organization that sponsors free 5ks every single week. We were in charge of directing the runners so they would all stay on course- it was…

  • Poznań Round 2 :))

    Hejka!! Hope you all have had a wonderful week!! Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes last week. 🙂 My birthday was wonderful!! We had transfers this last week, and for the first time ever, I’m STAYING in a city more than a transfer. Siostra Aramaki and Siostra Gornichec headed off to Łódź and Gdańsk, and I…

  • Jestem bardzo dzięki!!

    Hej cześć family and friends!  Jak tam!? It’s been an exciting crazy fun couple of weeks to be in Poznań!!! Okay so to start, we have our smartphones now!!  Many of you might have noticed that I’m back on Facebook and Messenger!  Our mission is now authorized to use online tools to help us do missionary work!…

  • Seeking Answers to Life’s Important Questions

    Hej cześć friends and family! This week I want to share an awesome teaching experience: We just started teaching a great guy who heard about the missionaries, but didn’t take action until much later.  Two years ago, he met the missionaries and played frisbee with them one day, and then just two weeks ago he…

  • Captained by Christ

    Hej cześć friends and family! As I consider my missionary experiences from this past week, I feel greatly blessed to be serving in Poznañ with my two companions—Sister Gornichec and Sister Aramaki. We kept ourselves busy with teaching appointments and meetings, we spent time reflecting on the last week of the Savior’s mortal life, and…

  • The Miracle of Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

    Dearest friends and family, It’s been another amazing week to be a missionary in Poland! Here are some highlights:  -We found out our mission is getting smartphones in a few weeks (No more little brick Nokia phones… WAHOO!!!)  It’s going to be a total game changer for missionary work and we can’t wait!  Group messages,…

  • Talent Shows, Castles and the Good Ol’ Red White & Blue 🙂

    Cześć friends and family!! Well, it’s been another GREAT couple of weeks in Poznań!! I’m so grateful to be here in this beautiful city!! Yesterday I was out of town doing legal work so my preparation day got moved to today! Here’s a couple highlights: TALENT SHOWS!! One of the things I love about Poznań…

    Cześć friends and family!!

    Well, it’s been another GREAT couple of weeks in Poznań!! I’m so grateful to be here in this beautiful city!! Yesterday I was out of town doing legal work so my preparation day got moved to today!

    Here’s a couple highlights:

    TALENT SHOWS!!

    One of the things I love about Poznań is that there’s always something crazy going on in the city! Siostra Godfrey and I were planning in the park the other day next to a fountain when we started hearing music from across the park.We looked over and auditions for Poland’s Got Talent were going on!!They had a full set of bleachers set up and dancers and singers in all kinds of costumes who took turns performing on the stage! 10/10 the best way to end a planning session haha!!

    CULTURE NIGHT

    For our culture night, we went with Marta and the Womack’s to the castle at Kórnik, about 30 minutes away from Poznań. It was so beautiful inside. Half the time I feel like I’m in a fairy tale land here—we’re literally surrounded by castles!!

    FOURTH OF JULY PARTY!!

    On the Fourth of July, we planned to have a big English class celebration and we worked really hard to prep for it–we invited everyone we could think of, prepped for a barbeque complete with burgers, chips, and all the toppings, and prepped some fun America trivia for class. We set a (somewhat high) goal of 15 people to come. And not only did we surpass our goal, we had 6 brand new people come!! It was such an awesome success and just the perfect way to celebrate 🙂

    ZONE CONFERENCE

    We had Zone Conference last week and we got to meet our new mission president, Prezydent Chandler! Both he and Sister Chandler are AMAZING and I am so excited for what is to come! They both served their first missions in Poland almost 30 years ago, and now they’re here again!

    At Zone Conference we talked about our personal relationships with Christ!! Before we can help anyone else come closer to Christ, we first have to have a relationship with him. And the more we work on our relationship with him, the more we can share His light with the people around us! We also accepted a challenge: starting last Monday to read the Book of Mormon in 40 days! We are just over a week into the challenge now, and I can say truly have never been so happy and so at peace as when I study the Book of Mormon everyday. Scriptures that I have read and heard before jump out at me in new ways, and I am learning so much!!

    This week we also had a leadership meeting in Warsaw where we talked a lot about teaching and finding people by the Spirit. It was amazing because halfway through the meeting we took half an hour to go out into the street and put what we were learning into practice! We didn’t have any amazing conversations during that time, but I felt so spiritually renewed after!! It was great!

    BACK TO THE BEGINNING :’)

    And this weekend, I took a 6-hour train ride back down to the city I started in—Katowice—to do legal work!!  And the great news is everything went well so I’m good to stay in Poland!! 🙂

    I say this over and over, but I am SO GRATEFUL to be here in Poland sharing this beautiful message. We have a Heavenly Father who loves us and knows us individually. He knows our hopes, our dream, our desires, and our weaknesses, and He wants us to succeed!! We have the ultimate older brother, Jesus Christ, who lived and died for us. Because of Jesus Christ, we don’t have to go through any part of life alone—He is always by our side! Naprawdę wiem, że On zawsze jest blisko❤️

    Kocham was tak mocno!! I love you all!! Have a wonderful week!!

    z dużooo miłością,

    Siostra Baldwin

    Letters/packages:

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich

    ul. Wiernicza 135

    02-952 Warszawa Poland

  • Skyping Siostras / Nuns on Parade 😉

    This week has been a great one. I think something I have really been recognizing is growth this week. In myself, and in the people we are teaching! It has been such a good week!! Friends we’re teaching:   – We’ve officially started doing skype lessons with some of the people we’re teaching!! On Sunday we…

    This week has been a great one. I think something I have really been recognizing is growth this week. In myself, and in the people we are teaching! It has been such a good week!!

    Friends we’re teaching:  

    – We’ve officially started doing skype lessons with some of the people we’re teaching!! On Sunday we had a skype lesson with one of the sweet girls we’re teaching, and honestly it was one of the best lessons we’ve probably ever had with her. She is young but she has continually read the Book of Mormon over the last several months and is almost at the end of 2 Nephi. For this last lesson she kept her commitment to read  Nephi 29 and she was ready with a bunch of really amazing questions. What was even cooler was at the end of the lesson, we had her explain to us what the Bible is, what the difference between the Old and the New testament are, and how the Book of Mormon is a Second witness of Christ. It was amazing to see how much knowledge and what a beautiful testimony she has gained of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and of the Book of Mormon. I am so excited for her!! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is SO life changing!

    And YES, as the title of this email suggests, we did become part of a Catholic parade (kind of). What really happened is that we were heading home on Friday and we were almost at our tram stop when a huge and I mean HUGE crowd of people started coming up the street. The literally hundreds a of priests and nuns and other people came down the street and there were so many people that we were literally pushed along. The trams were stopped all the way down the street. A ways down he street, everyone in the crowd started singing hymns together. it was probably one of the most beautiful things I have ever been a part of. It was one of those moments when you realize where you are and you are just so grateful!! And truly, I am so grateful for the mission. I am so grateful I get to share this beautiful message.

    I love you all!! I hope you have a wonderful week!! Kocham was!!!

    z dużoooo miłością,

    Siostra Baldwin

    Letters/packages:

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland  

    pics:

    –Our żabka sign 🙂

    -The parade!

    -After Parkrun!

  • Nie ma za CO!

    Hej cześć friends and fam! I hope you all have had a good one!! 🙂 This week: -We had exchanges with the Bydgoszcz sister missionaries and I got to be with Siostra Miller all day!!  It was a total blast!! -This week we had our LAST Zone Conference with Prezydent and Siostra Turek.  They are…

    Hej cześć friends and fam! I hope you all have had a good one!! 🙂

    This week:

    -We had exchanges with the Bydgoszcz sister missionaries and I got to be with Siostra Miller all day!!  It was a total blast!!

    -This week we had our LAST Zone Conference with Prezydent and Siostra Turek.  They are both truly amazing and they will be so missed.  At zone conference we talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. One of my favorite scriptures that was discussed is 1 Corinthians 15:22 –

    For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

    And I know that this is true!! Because of Christ, we know that death is not the end.  Through Jesus Christ and his Atonement, we can all be made alive!

    This week, our district in Poznań is splitting up!  Starszy Wagley has finished his mission and is on his way home, and Starszy Posacki is headed off to Szczeczin, which means we don’t have Elders in Poznań, just Sisters!!  These next few weeks are going to be an awesome adventure! 

    I love you all!! I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

    Kocham was!!

    Siostra Baldwin

    pics:

    1. Serving in Poland or Disneyland??

    2. EXCHANGES with Siostra Miller and Siostra Lueck 🙂

    3. The Poznań branch!

    4. The Poznań missionary district

  • HAPPY FATHERS DAY ❤

    Hejka cześć!! Hope you all have had a wonderful week! First off, I have to say HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all the fathers and wonderful fatherly figures out there!! You are so loved!! I am so grateful for my dad and for the amazing example he is to me!! I want to be just like…

    Hejka cześć!! Hope you all have had a wonderful week! First off, I have to say HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all the fathers and wonderful fatherly figures out there!! You are so loved!! I am so grateful for my dad and for the amazing example he is to me!! I want to be just like him when I grow up!! 🙂

    This week was a great one to be in Poznań- the weather has been pretty hot and humid recently and we’ve been busy!!

    A couple highlights from this week: 

    We had our first sports night of the summer on Saturday and it was so successful!!! We had a few branch members, a few people we’re teaching, and some new friends we met contacting recently come!! We played volleyball and frisbee and it was such a good time:) 

    On Wednesday we had a leadership meeting (Called MLC) in Warsaw and it was amazing 🙂 Prezydent and Siostra Turek are so inspired!! It was also a really sad MLC because it was our last one with Prezydent Turek!! We’re getting a new mission President, Prezydent Chandler at the the beginning of July!! 

    I love you all!! I hope you all have a wonderful week!!

    z miłością,

    Siostra Baldwin

    Letters/packages:

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland  

    pics:

    1. Ice cream with Martyna<3

    2. One last picture with Asia before she goes home for the summer!

    3. SPORTS SATURDAY!!!

    4. Parkrun with Sister Womack :))

  • 5ks and Chalk talks 🙂

    Hej cześć friends and fam!! Hope you all have had a wonderful week!!  Here’s a couple highlights of this week: This week we also got to volunteer at Parkrun, an organization that sponsors free 5ks every single week. We were in charge of directing the runners so they would all stay on course- it was…

    Hej cześć friends and fam!! Hope you all have had a wonderful week!! 

    Here’s a couple highlights of this week:

    This week we also got to volunteer at Parkrun, an organization that sponsors free 5ks every single week. We were in charge of directing the runners so they would all stay on course- it was pretty funny because Siostra Godfrey and I were cheering really loudly (for everyone that ran by- and usually Polish people don’t really cheer until the end of the race!! Several people came up to us afterward and we got to share who we are and what we do 🙂

    On Saturday we had our branch barbeque/ picnik and it was SO MUCH FUN!! We bought several of pizzas, drinks, cookies, and salads, and went to one of the beautiful outdoor parks here in Poznań and played football (with an authentic American football!), frisbee, badminton, and a bunch of other games. The time went wayyy too fast!!

    We also went out this week to Park Cytadela and drew the Plan of Salvation out in chalk this week, and Emyla (from the Poznań branch!) and Michal (visiting from Lublin!) came out and helped us. We had several awesome conversations!!

    This week was a little bit slower of a teaching week because most of our people are either taking exams or going home for the summer. We’re going to keep on teaching some through skype, but this also means we’re going to be out talking to people and finding people to teach! 🙂

    I hope you all have a great week! This gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is TRUE! I love you all!! Kocham was!

    z miłością,

    Siostra Baldwin

    pics

    1. PARKRUN!! 🙂

    2.Runners at Parkrun 

    3. Chalk talk!!

    4. Michal at the chalk talk 

  • Poznań Round 2 :))

    Hejka!! Hope you all have had a wonderful week!! Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes last week. 🙂 My birthday was wonderful!! We had transfers this last week, and for the first time ever, I’m STAYING in a city more than a transfer. Siostra Aramaki and Siostra Gornichec headed off to Łódź and Gdańsk, and I…

    Hejka!! Hope you all have had a wonderful week!! Thank you for the sweet birthday wishes last week. 🙂 My birthday was wonderful!!

    We had transfers this last week, and for the first time ever, I’m STAYING in a city more than a transfer. Siostra Aramaki and Siostra Gornichec headed off to Łódź and Gdańsk, and I was assigned a new companion – Siostra Godfrey! Sister Godfrey and I were in the same mission zone when I started my mission in Katowice and we even went on splits together once when I visited Krakow. We’ve already had some great adventures and teaching experiences this week and I can tell it’s going to be another amazing couple of months in Poznań!! 

    Today I want to share a quick thought from a devotional address I read this week given by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, titled “The Two Guiding Lights”. In this devotional, he explains that the Savior has given us two great beacons of light in our lives to help guide us through the storms of life. These two great lights are the first and second commandments. In Matthew chapter 22:37-38, we read:

    Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

    https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/joseph-b-wirthlin_two-guiding-lights/

    In these few short sentences, the Savior has provided us a foundation for everything we think, say, and do as disciples of Jesus Christ. When loving God and loving our neighbor is at the core of everything we do, we find increased direction and peace in our lives.  Truly, we find ourselves when we lose ourselves in service—at least that’s what I’m discovering!! 🙂

    I love you all! Thank you for your love and support for me! Although sometimes I can’t respond to every email, know that I read every single one and I am so grateful for you all. I hope you have a wonderful week!!!

    z miłością,

    Siostra Baldwin

    Letters/packages:

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland  

    pics:

    -Ice cream feat. the 2 biggest BYU fans in Poznań 🙂

    -Siostra Godfrey and I after being caught in a May rainstorm!!

  • Jestem bardzo dzięki!!

    Hej cześć family and friends!  Jak tam!? It’s been an exciting crazy fun couple of weeks to be in Poznań!!! Okay so to start, we have our smartphones now!!  Many of you might have noticed that I’m back on Facebook and Messenger!  Our mission is now authorized to use online tools to help us do missionary work!…

    With Karol and Tosia!! They’re the BEST!

    Hej cześć family and friends!  Jak tam!? It’s been an exciting crazy fun couple of weeks to be in Poznań!!!

    Okay so to start, we have our smartphones now!!  Many of you might have noticed that I’m back on Facebook and Messenger!  Our mission is now authorized to use online tools to help us do missionary work!  This won’t change anything about communication (still emails on P-days!), but I’m so excited to see how this great change will help hasten the Lord’s work! 🙂

    Siostra Aramaki and I hit our 8-month mark together!

    We’ve had some amazing meetings with people we’re teaching recently:

    • We had an awesome lesson with a girl we’re teaching this last week and she decided she wants to prepare to be BAPTIZED on June 22. Step by step, she’s building her faith in Christ as she is reading the Book of Mormon and praying.  I’m so excited to see the changes she’s making in her life as she prepares for baptism!
    • We had a great meeting with a less-active member yesterday after they came to church. We talked about the importance of Prophets and how amazing it is that we have a living Prophet today.  The world might change over time, but the Lord never changes- throughout history, He has always called prophets on the earth to serve as the mouthpieces for God on earth!
    • And we had another meeting with Nikola and her mom!   We talked about the Plan of Salvation, meaning God’s plan for us.  I’m so grateful I get to share such a beautiful topic with so many people!

    And funny language moment: This week, as we were teaching Sunday School, I meant to say I was very thankful for something (Jestem bardzo wdzięczna).  Instead, and without even realizing it I said: “Jestem bardzo dzięki“, which means “I am very thanks!!!”  I couldn’t figure out why my companions were laughing but when they told me afterward we all laughed pretty hard! 🙂  Learning polish is such an adventure!

    With Bożena

    I was reading an Ensign magazine this week, and I came across an article that I’ve been thinking about ever since.  God is the ultimate artist! There aren’t very many people who can sit down with a blank piece of paper and draw a beautiful landscape.  I, for sure, can’t! But God is the creator.  He is the ultimate artist.  Not only did he create everything around us in beautiful 3-D, but he also created people, with all of our differences, personalities and talents.  Not only did He create us, but He is our literal Father in Heaven and He allows us to call Him Father.  He loves us and He knows each one of us so individually.  And for that, I am so grateful.

    Walking down the streets of Poznań

    I hope you all have a wonderful week!  Kocham was!

    z miłością,

    Siostra Baldwin

  • Seeking Answers to Life’s Important Questions

    Hej cześć friends and family! This week I want to share an awesome teaching experience: We just started teaching a great guy who heard about the missionaries, but didn’t take action until much later.  Two years ago, he met the missionaries and played frisbee with them one day, and then just two weeks ago he…

    Hej cześć friends and family! This week I want to share an awesome teaching experience:

    We just started teaching a great guy who heard about the missionaries, but didn’t take action until much later.  Two years ago, he met the missionaries and played frisbee with them one day, and then just two weeks ago he remembered that the missionaries also teach a free English class.  He showed up for the first-time last week and then participated in our religious discussion afterwards.  During our discussion, he accepted a copy of the Księga Mormona and scheduled to meet with us the following week.   Our first lesson with him was this last week and he was very prepared with some great questions likes: “Why do you believe in God?  Why do you believe in Jesus Christ?  Why are you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Why not another Church?”  

    I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that YES, there is a God—we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and knows us individually by name. YES, Jesus Christ is the Savior!  And YES, the same Church that Jesus Christ established when He was on the earth has been restored and is on the earth again today!  I don’t just know these things because they have been written in the scriptures or they have been spoken of in Church. I know these things because I have searched for the answers, and I have felt the confirmation that these things are true!  In The Book of Mormon from Alma Chapter 32, we can read about an ancient American prophet Alma who compares faith to a seed:

    “Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.”

    and then in verse 33 he explains:

    And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.”

    If we want to find answers to the questions our new friend had, whether the Gospel is true, first we need to have the desire to know. We have to really want it and be willing to work for our answer! And then, as we strive to listen to the word of God, to read the scriptures, to pray, and to ponder, we will receive our answer.  I know this is true because I have taken Alma’s experiment myself!  And I have received a personal witness that these things are true. The Spirit was so strong as we testified to this man that we CAN receive answers to our hard questions—all it takes is us having the desire and the willingness to try.

    I love this gospel, and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to share this life-changing message. I love you all! Bardzo was kocham! I hope you have a wonderful week! 🙂

    z miłością,

    Siostra Baldwin

    Letters/packages:

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland  

    pics:

    1 & 2. The daily run!

    3. The story our intermediate english class wrote together! 🙂 W

  • Captained by Christ

    Hej cześć friends and family! As I consider my missionary experiences from this past week, I feel greatly blessed to be serving in Poznañ with my two companions—Sister Gornichec and Sister Aramaki. We kept ourselves busy with teaching appointments and meetings, we spent time reflecting on the last week of the Savior’s mortal life, and…

    Hej cześć friends and family!

    As I consider my missionary experiences from this past week, I feel greatly blessed to be serving in Poznañ with my two companions—Sister Gornichec and Sister Aramaki. We kept ourselves busy with teaching appointments and meetings, we spent time reflecting on the last week of the Savior’s mortal life, and we celebrated with the Saints of Poznañ the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 😊

    Here are a few highlights:

    We had a terrific meeting with the sweetest girl we’re teaching.  Our conversation focused on God’s plan for us as His children, and our purpose in life!  We also talked about the meaning of the Atonement and how powerful it can be when we apply it to our own lives.  The Spirit was so powerful as we testified of the power of the Atonement and the peace it brings!

    Several people we are teaching are steadily progressing and it’s amazing to see them week after week, as they keep their commitments, read the Book of Mormon, pray, and grow so much spiritually! 😊

    For our service project this week, we visited a non-profit hospicjum (hospice) here in Poznań. The staff and residents are preparing for a huge festival the first couple days of May where, as their fundraiser for the year, they will sell hand-crafted and painted butterflies. Our project was to assemble and glue each butterfly. It was awesome!

    On Sunday, I spoke in Sacrament Meeting on some of the varied and distinctly meaningful titles of Christ including Savior, Redeemer, Prince of Peace, Son of God, and Son of Man—and on how His Atonement and Resurrection are the greatest gifts we will ever know. It was the first time I wrote my talk in Polish (up to this point, I have written them in English first and then translated them into Polish). I felt especially fluent and was grateful to share my testimony with the members and guests of the Poznañ branch. In addition to this week’s special assignment of speaking, one of my regular weekly responsibilities is pianist for the congregation so I stayed quite busy during the meeting.

    As I was preparing my talk, I found a General Conference address by President Ezra Taft Benson from October 1985.  Included below are a few favorite sections:

    “Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world…Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. Like Paul they will be asking, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6) Peter stated, they will “follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21.) John said they will “walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:6.)  Finally, men captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ. To paraphrase President Harold B. Lee, ‘they set fire in others because they are on fire…Not only would they die for the Lord, but more important they want to live for Him…Enter their homes, and the pictures on their walls, the books on their shelves, the music in the air, their words and acts reveal them as Christians.”

    https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1985/10/born-of-god?lang=eng

    I love you all so much!!  I am so grateful to be a missionary!  I know this Gospel is true, and that if we are captained by Christ, we will find more joy than we can ever know!!  I hope you have a wonderful week!

    z miłością,

    Siostra Baldwin

    Letters/packages:

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland

  • The Miracle of Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

    Dearest friends and family, It’s been another amazing week to be a missionary in Poland! Here are some highlights:  -We found out our mission is getting smartphones in a few weeks (No more little brick Nokia phones… WAHOO!!!)  It’s going to be a total game changer for missionary work and we can’t wait!  Group messages,…

    ‘Lucie‘ (Little Girl Drawing the Sun in the Sky) by David Mesguich, Poznań, Poland

    Dearest friends and family,

    It’s been another amazing week to be a missionary in Poland! Here are some highlights: 

    -We found out our mission is getting smartphones in a few weeks (No more little brick Nokia phones… WAHOO!!!)  It’s going to be a total game changer for missionary work and we can’t wait!  Group messages, Facebook, google translate—anything is possible! 🙂

    I promised I would talk about the amazing people we’re teaching more, so this week I’ll tell ya’ll about Ola!  Ola is the cutest young mom from Ukraine who has been learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the last few months.  She has such a beautiful spirit and always asks the best questions.  This last week, we taught her about living prophets and watched one of President Nelson’s talks from General Conference with her in Ukrainian (I couldn’t understand anything, yet the Spirit was still SO STRONG!).  Right away, she said that President Nelson was a wise man and Ola decided to pray more to know if he is really a prophet of God.  I’m so excited for her to get her answer! 🙂

    This week I’ve been absolutely awestruck by the way the Lord leads us to the right place at the right time if we just listen.  We were coming home one night and were already in our apartment building when we met the cutest 13-year old—Nikola—and her mom.  We were exactly in the right place to help them with something they really needed; and afterwards, they invited us to their apartment.  We had the absolute best conversation and got to testify of Christ, that He knows us so individually and that He will put the right people in our lives when we need them.  The next day they invited us back and we gave them Books of Mormon, shared our favorite verses, and taught them about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Meeting them was a total MIRACLE and was the total highlight of an already great week!

    General Conference was this last weekend and it was AMAZING!!  If you didn’t get a chance to watch it (or if you want to listen to it again!) you can check it out on churchofjesuschrist.org!  I especially loved Elder Brooke P. Hales’ talk.  He reminded us that God knows everything—He knows the past, the present and the future, and that sometimes the answer you get to a request is a ‘no’ in favor of a later, better ‘yes’!  I testify that what he said is true!

    https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2019/04/13hales?lang=eng

    I love this Gospel and am so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary. This Gospel is TRUE!  I love you all, and I hope you have a wonderful week!

    z miłością,

    Siostra Baldwin

  • Hola a todos!

    This week went very well. Happy Mother’s Day Week!

    My Mother is the light of my life. I am where I am because of her love and encouragement! She has taught me what it means to put God first in my life. I love you Mami!!!

    Words of Wisdom about Motherhood:

    Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling…it is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.” Elder Neil L. Anderson

    “Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of both the mother who bore us and the mothers who bear with us.” Sheri Dew

    “What Mothers do is an essential element of Christ’s work.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

    “There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of Motherhood.” Elder M. Russell Ballard

    “There is no limit to what a woman with a Mother’s heart can accomplish.” Julie B. Beck

    I don’t know where I would be without the knowledge that families are forever. This goal begins with the Mother who brings children into this world and teaches them right from wrong, to always put God first, and to serve those in need. Mothers are the most important part of a family. They are the ones who nurture and help the family grow into becoming the family Heavenly Father wants them to be. 

    We are preparing this week for a baptism. This will be the first baptism I will attend in person on my mission! Zoom is not the same! 😊 What an experience it will be to see the joy of this young friend to experience what it’s like to have the Holy Ghost with him always. In 3rd Nephi 11:33 it says “And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.” This scripture is so true! If we want to return to our Heavenly Father, then we must take the first step which is to get baptized.

    I encourage and invite each of you to reach out to the missionaries where you live and take lessons from them because what we teach is something so cool and so powerful that it will change your life forever!

    I like the quote by Marcus Aurelius: “What we do now echoes in eternity.” Now is the time, my friends, to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy it brings into our lives. Share the good news that Jesus is the Christ!

    Thanks for everything that has been done for me while I have been out here serving! I love all of you and hope this week is a blast! STAY SAFE OUT THERE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!  Buena Suerte tambien! ❤

    May the good Lord bless you all! ✌🙏✨❤ Until next week!

    Elder Baldwin

    Mothers are Important

  • HOLA A TODOS! What a week it has been! Am I right? A lot of changes happened this week in this part of the vineyard.

    Change #1: To begin with, this week I hit my 7th month in the mission field! Isn’t that Crazy? I have been out for 7 months already and I have been able to see and experience much. I have sweet memories of people, places, and situations that remind me of what I am about and who I am becoming.

    Change #2: On transfer day, Tuesday April 26th, I saw my companion, Elder Walton leave for his new assigned area. We spent 3 months together seeking out people to teach, visiting those who called upon us to receive a blessing, praying with those whom we visit regularly and who feed us, and discovering new places during our P-Day (preparation day). I enjoyed his leadership as a District Leader, and his friendship. As I saw him leaving I became a bit sad. 😥 I didn’t know that these two transfers would teach me so much about love and how to care for someone else. Thank you “Compa”!

    Change #3: I was also excited to receive a new companion. His name is Elder McBride and he has been out in the mission field for 20 months. I am impressed with the language skills he has gained while serving out here. A mission can do a lot for one person. It’s Crazy!!! I am grateful for the chance to have a companion who has been out here 14 months longer than I have. He comes with a lot of experience and because of it I have already learned so much from him!

    Change #4: With this new transfer I may get to drive now because I know the area. I will enjoy this very much.

    Change #5: One thing I have learned while out here is to become a hard worker. My perception of hard work has definitely changed! Hard workers earn joy and happiness and that is what I have today because of the choice I made to serve a Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I like to call it the BEST TWO YEARS because it is true, these are the best two years of my life! My life continues to change everyday as I serve. I am grateful to my sister Elizabeth, who served her mission in Poland, for her example of hard work. She just recently achieved a high ranking status at BYU Provo Utah, where she was picked to be on the BYU EMT (Emergency Medical Team). Isn’t that so cool? At least I think it is. She works very hard and is achieving her dreams. She continues to save lives—as a lifeguard in her youth, and now as an EMT. She is one of my heroes! Just like my older sister, I am also saving lives here in the mission, spiritually speaking.

    It’s so much easier to make the right choices when you are doing good for other people, so I invite you to do good for other people and find joy and happiness. Change your lives for good, change your heart, change your perspective, and turn to the Lord. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

    I love you all and please please please send me emails, letters, stickers you name it! 💗 love you all and hope this week is a blast!

    STAY SAFE OUT THERE FRIENDS AND FAMILY!✌

    “The Only Constant in Life is Change”

  • Hello y’all! From the dusty, desert streets of Scottsdale, Arizona!

    This past week was our last week before missionary transfers—#5!

    To finish off this past transfer, I gave my first talk in Spanish in the Camelback Spanish Branch. I was quite stressed about it because it required much more preparation than talks I had given before.  I was surprised that my speaking assignment was a minimum of 10 minutes. I took 12. I practiced it in Spanish, and it seems to me that the talk went very well.  A few members came up to me afterwards and thanked me for my efforts and the message. All the members here are super kind and sweet to us.  I have felt at home ever since I started serving here.  My assigned topic was: “Member/Missionary Team Work,” which is the best work there is!  I spoke about how members can assist missionaries in the work of the Lord.

    Some of the ideas I shared include:

    1. We need everyone to help!
    2. We can’t do this on our own.
    3. Members are a key element in the processes of conversion and retention.
    4. Members and Missionaries make a powerful team.
    5. Members/Missionaries (together) can reach out, give service, invite and share.
    6. The Spirit speaks to us in many instances.
    7. Feeling overwhelmed is natural but remember what Elder Uchtdorf said: “The Lord has never required expert, flawless missionary efforts.  Instead, “The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.” I also quoted President Thomas S. Monson: “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him”

    I know that if we work together, the Lord can work with us to bring many more souls unto Jesus Christ.  I encourage each one of you to reach out to the missionaries in your area and go on visits together.  I know we can make this happen.  I have a strong Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know it can change lives. I know that President Nelson is a true prophet of God.  I know The Book of Mormon is true and testifies about how we can find peace and happiness through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  As a missionary, I want to better myself and become even a greater disciple of Jesus Christ.

    We have also continued teaching and our young friend says he is ready for the next big step!  HE IS READY TO BE BAPTIZED; MAY 7TH IS HIS SET DATE!!! We have also continued talking to Jr’s mother. And she wants him to get baptized on the same day as his friend. Isn’t that just so exciting!! This week we will be working on preparing for those baptisms.

    I am so grateful for the time I have spent on the mission so far. I have learned many different things.  This week my mom taught me to make Green Mexican Salsa!  Also, my companions have been great teachers to me. For example, my last companion helped me expand my understanding on how to communicate with members more effectively.

    It has now become my turn to lead this area! It’s kind of nerve racking! All the work we have put in has to continue on to reach out to those who are interested in learning about Jesus Christ. I am grateful again for the service and love you all have provided for me. You are all in my prayers 🙏❤.  Thanks for being Awesome! and have a good Week!

    Love you all and Buene Suerte!

    (Good luck)

    Elder Baldwin

    Tasty Green Salsa & My 12-Minute Spanish Talk 🌶

  • This past week was a long week. We have continued teaching those who are seeking to learn more about the Gospel. Our young friends are always excited for our next visit. That’s how we should feel about Jesus Christ when He comes again.

    This world is in turmoil right now and it needs all the love and support it can get. Easter Sunday brings that love. We had a wonderful Easter here in the Camelback Spanish Branch. Everyone who attended was so happy to get back together and celebrate. The joy I feel when I am around the members of the Branch is immeasurable. Some of the children ran up to my companion and me and were like ” Oh!! The Elders Are Here!” That made me feel very welcomed. I can truly see that I have made a big difference in the lives of these members of the branch, and they have made a difference in mine. I honestly feel at home.

    I have continued to learn a lot while I have been out here. Patience has been on my list all this week.  Daily situations demand patience. Not easy, but necessary. Some experiences cannot be readily shared but I am grateful that we have President Smith to help us navigate our mission.

    As we celebrate THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, let us remember that it is because of Him that we can find peace and joy in this life. I really like the scripture (John 11:25.) “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”  This scripture promises that death is not the end. It encourages me to become a better person and teach those who would like to be taught the same principle I am learning.

    Thanks to all of you for the love, care and support! I would not be out here with out the encouragement I received and will continue to receive! I LOVE AND CARE FOR YOU ALL! ❤💙💜

    BUENE SUERTE!

    ELDER BALDWIN 

    EASTER THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL!

  • Family and friends!

    What a week it has been! Learning and growing to become a better person is well worth it!  We recently had one of the Twelve apostles, Elder Neil L. Andersen, speak to us in person here in the Arizona Scottsdale Mission. It was a mission-wide gathering. All the missionaries from the Mountains and the missionaries in the Valley got together to hear one of God’s chosen apostles.

    What he taught was very meaningful to me.  He thought that staying in an area for awhile is good sometimes up to 6-8 months because it will help us get to know the members very well. When you get to know the members well, you develop relationships of trust, and you can serve better because you learn about their real needs. He also taught us that learning the names of all the young men and women we serve is important because we are helping mentor them, and hopefully—through our example– encourage them in the right direction and even to serve a mission.

    Recently I heard that we are going to receive the visit of another apostle of the Lord. We do not know who it is though. I hope is President Nelson! Wouldn’t that be a cool story to share? Indeed! I think it would. If he comes this will be my second time to be in close proximity to the Prophet of God!!! So exiting!

    My cousin – Jared and I walking into the Conference at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas

    The first time I saw the Prophet—President Nelson– was back in November 2018.  He came and spoke at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Sister Wendy Nelson, his wife, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, and Elder Adrian Ochoa, a General authority Seventy and his wife were also present. We traveled from Dallas to San Antonio and attended this meeting with family and cousins. The youth were allowed to sit very close to the podium and my cousin Jared and I were seated on the third row.  When the meeting finished, President Nelson walked next to where we were sitting and literally, he was like two feet away from me! I remember him shaking the hand of a child who was seated in front of us, and I wanted to shake his hand too. What an eventful experience that was for me! I was so excited to see him so close to us!

    When I was in the Primary, I used to sing the song “Follow the Prophet”.

    “Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, follow the prophet; don’t go astray.

    Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, follow the prophet; he knows the way.  

    My testimony is that by following the Prophet, we too can win spiritual, physical, and mental victories against the adversary.  I know the Lord calls prophets, and when we listen to their words and act upon what they ask us to do, we are blessed.

    Elder Walton and I have continued teaching Bro. Gonzalez. Learning the principles of the Gospel is important.  Before anyone can be baptized, we always make sure they understand the first principles and ordinances of the gospel which are: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  We plan to review them again this week with him. His baptism is planned for April 16 the day before Easter. I think that is a perfect time to be baptized, so family can invite friends and relatives to witness this ordinance and partake of the Spirit of the Lord.

    Thanks for all the love and support you all have shown me. If you would like to write any personal emails to me my email, send them to: Joshua.baldwin@missionary.org For letters send them to:

    Elder Joshua S. Baldwin

    Arizona Scottsdale Mission

    6265 N. 82nd Street

    Scottsdale, AZ 85250

    THANKS SO MUCH Y’ALL AND HAVE A BLESSED WEEK! 🙌🙏💕 

    An Apostle Visits our Mission

  • This week was quite interesting. We had General Conference, we met a lady in the laundromat, and we found our apartment door wide open.

    General Conference: This past weekend we enjoyed listening to the General authorities of the church. It was awesome. For me, the general theme was: “Continue to preach the Gospel.” I really liked President Nelson’s talks: “Preaching the Gospel of Peace, The Power of Spiritual Momentum, and Now is the Time. In his Sunday morning talk, President Nelson focused on encouraging the youth to serve missions because the mission field is a learning ground.

    The talk from Elder Dallin Oaks was also very interesting as he spoke about the family and the stance of the church on marriage: “we affirm that the family proclamation, founded on irrevocable doctrine, defines the kind of family relationships where the most important part of our eternal development can occur.”  I find great comfort in knowing that this doctrine will never change.

    These talks taught me a lot. What did you learn from General Conference?

    Lady at the laundromat:  We began talking to her and she asked us about our teaching.  We shared with her the Book of Mormon and she rejected it immediately. I find that many people will flatly say: “The Book of Mormon is all a lie” without haven’t ever read it.  I wish people would take the challenge to read it, as I have done it and ask God if it’s true.  The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. Moroni, a prophet from The Book of  Mormon invited all to read, ponder and pray.

     “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (The Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:3-5)

    The invitation is for all of us. You too can find out as you read, ponder and pray if the book is true.

    Finding our apartment door wide open:  Upon returning from one of our regular days, we found the door of our apartment wide open.  My first thought was to check if anything was missing.  Luckily everything was there.  I was concerned mainly about our bikes because they were just right there leaning against the wall.  I was also worried because one of the Sister’s bikes was stolen recently. I feel the Lord protected our place, and I am grateful for that.

    The mission has taught me to work with others and it has shown me that not everyone you meet will want to talk to you. A mission is a tough time, but in the long run blessings will be given to you and your friends, and family for serving. Also, the mission has taught me how important the family is.  I feel I love my family a lot more. Being away from the family for 6 months has given me a different appreciation for all my family members.  I am planning to spend more time with family when I return home.  I am looking forward to enjoying family relationships more. I know I am going to be a different person.  I am planning on spending my time engaging more on activities.

    We have continued teaching our young friends and are still working with Jr to get him baptized. His mom works all week so it makes it difficult for us to set a baptism date for him. He does sound like he is interested though.

     I love being a missionary. The lessons learned out here are valuable. I am grateful for what I have learned. Thanks for all you guys do and continue to do your best.

    Choose the right! There is peace in righteous doing.

    Choose the right! There’s safety for the soul.

    Choose the right in all labors you’re pursuing;

    Let God and heaven be your goal.

    (Choose the Right. LDS hymn #239)

    Buena suerte amigos.

    Elder D. Todd Christofferson is my Mom’s favorite Apostle!

    🕶 Mission Possible 🕶

  • “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31:20)

    Hello family and friends,

    This week was a very great experience in the mission. Although It’s been hard being out here away from family and friends, I have been able to find many reasons to feel happy. It’s been a wild ride these past 6 months learning and growing and meeting new people.  I have learned so much!  It takes a brave young soul to decide to go and step away from his/her family for two full years and decide to serve.  Because I have been out here, I have seen numerous blessings for my family and friends.

    I would like to share with you some of the things I am learning:

    📜 Talking to people more openly

    📜 Asking for help when needed

    📜 Experiencing the joy of serving others around me

    📜 Making good friends for a lifetime

    📜 Understanding that not everyone will want to listen to you

    📜 Knowing that missionaries are truly Christ-like people

    📜 Gaining comfort with being on my own for long periods of time

    📜 Speaking Spanish more regularly

    📜 Knowing that God loves me and that He works on His own timing and not mine

    📜 I HAVE THE BEST PARENTS IN THE WHOLE WORLD, WHO GOT ME TO THIS SWEET POINT IN MY LIFE

    Many great things happened this week. We have continued to teach our 9 yr old friend.  We had scheduled his baptism on April 2nd not realizing that General Conference was that weekend, so we pushed it back a week. We have planned his baptism for April 9th. So exciting! The lesson we taught him this past week was on Temples, and obtaining a Temple Recommend (permission card that Church members use to access the Temple and its accompanying blessings. The card is given to those who demonstrate their faithfulness and commit to honoring their covenants with God). He asked us: “How can I get one of those?” We sadly told him he has to wait until he turns 12 years old, but I’m sure he will continue preparing for that special day.  We also have continued to try to teach other people, but they worked all week long and it’s been hard.  This week we plan to involve more members of the branch to help with these families.

    WHO IS LOOKING FORWARD TO GENERAL CONFERENCE WEEKEND???? because I sure am! Come join me in watching the Prophet of our day speak about how you can find peace and happiness in this HARSH world we live in!

    I am grateful for the Mission experience I have been able to have, and the friends I have made. 6 months is a big step in this stage of my life. I sometimes wonder what would have been like, if I had not chosen to serve a mission. I am grateful for the positive impact my parents and family have had on me. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE NEXT 6 MONTHS! And the joy and happiness they will bring to me, my friends, and my family!

    Thanks again for all the love and support ❤ I love you all and wish a blessing of protection as I am out here serving at this time. 

    P.S. GENERAL Conference Here we Come!! 🥳🎉🎊

    BUENA SUERTE!!

    PRESSING FORWARD!

  • I am finally out of my Teen years! I have waited so long for this to happen!! I had a great birthday thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday. Thank you for the cards, the gifts, the food, the cake and all your love.  My mom told me this would be a special birthday for many reasons, and she was right!  Having a birthday in the mission field is different, but great!  I enjoyed the day thoroughly!!!!!!

    This week I was able to ride my bike more and I enjoy that.  I had my bike shipped from home and I feel great.  Also, this week we had a lesson with our young 9-year-old friend. This kid is promising. He is super excited to continue learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy and happiness it brings. 

    My thoughts about death and the resurrection have continued to linger in my mind, and I am grateful to know that after we die, we go to the spirit world where we wait until it is time to be judged according to our desires and service here on Earth. Our family members that have passed on are there in the Spirit world learning about the gospel and waiting for us to join them. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:18-19). Missionary work is organized in the Spirit world.  Everyone is learning about faith, love, covenants, baptism and more.  This knowledge brings great joy into my life.

    I am grateful for each one of you and for the knowledge that I am loved while being out here during this difficult time in our world today. The world is an interesting place! I had some experiences this past week while we were out riding our bikes that show what I am trying to say.

    🚗 A car drives up to the apartment complex where we were at, and a guy rolls down his window and asks my companion and I if we have any candy.  I said, “no we don’t.” Then I thought about the CTR rings, and I thought that it would have been hilarious 🤣😆 to give him a ring as candy! (CTR rings are commonly worn in our religious culture as a reminder to ‘Choose The Right.’)

    🚙 Another guy gets out of the car and walks up to us and starts saying, “man, I love you guys. I don’t believe what you are teaching is true, but I call you guys my “brothas” in the gospel. Then he says “Hey,  that name tag you guys are wearing does not mean a thing! Take it off.” I am there watching him and he continues to say “they are brainwashing you guys.” He continues talking to us and points to me and says “I’m older than you and you’re older than him.” In my mind I think: “Wow! this Dude got it right.” He then talks about the Book of John and I ask, “you mean the Book Of Mormon?” and he says “no, the Book of John”. He gets super close to my face and I think “OK, please God make this fast. If he punches me make it quick.” Luckily he did not. Five seconds later he says “ugh” and walks off into the distance of the apartment buildings. Truly, this experience tested my ability to stay calm in an unpredictable situation, but I was reminded that Heavenly Father watches out for us.

    My foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ is firm. I now know for sure that this Church is true, that the prophet is truly a prophet of God, and that he is our friend here on earth.  I encourage and invite all the family to take time out of your day to read at least a chapter or two out of The Book of Mormon, and you will feel the joy and happiness it brings into your lives. I LOVE ❤ YOU ALL! and THANK YOU again for the BIRTHDAY CARDS, LOVE, and SUPPORT!

    P.s A big shout out to my Mom And Dad for all they have done for me and the love and support I have received from them!  ❤💙💜

    BUENE SUERTE ESTA SEMANA!!!

    My 1ST BIRTHDAY in the Mission Field!

  • “LIFE is good when you find happiness in all things.” – Elder Baldwin 

    What’s up y’all!

    This week has been a great week. This is the end of my 3rd Transfer! I am literally coming up on 6 months of my mission. It’s surprising to see how fast time flies when you are in the work of the Lord for the right reason. During this week we visited and taught a few people. We had the two boys we are teaching, and their families came to Church again this past Sunday. It was a blessing to see them and their families learning about the Restored Gospel. Isn’t it wonderful to invite friends to come and partake of the Sacrament each Sunday? I am grateful to have that opportunity. We had exchanges this week and as usual, we had interesting experiences. So, we are riding our bikes and a guy sees us and yells: “LDS GANG!!! YEA!!!!”  I started to laugh. 😅 It made my day hearing him say that.

    Every week in the mission has its own special experiences.  This week back home my family attended the funeral services for my dear Uncle Gene.  He was special to me.  He supported me in my Boy Scout journey by helping me fulfill the requirements to earn merit badges. He shared with me his love for trains, he taught me how to refinish wood, and he was a great example of determination.  He experienced many hardships while serving our country in the Navy, and he was one of the few who traveled to the North Pole in a submarine.  I love Uncle Gene and will miss him. 

    As I expressed my condolences to my Tia Elia, I felt impressed to share the scriptures found in The Book of Mormon in Alma chapter 40. In this chapter, the prophet Alma wrote about “Christ bringing to pass the resurrection of all men—The righteous dead go to paradise and the wicked to outer darkness to await the day of their resurrection—All things will be restored to their proper and perfect frame in the Resurrection.” I am grateful for this knowledge and the hope that brings to my soul.  To know that death is not the end, brings me peace.  I will see my Uncle again one day thanks to Jesus Christ our Savior.

    As I shared my love with my Auntie Elia I quoted the following “there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works” (Alma 40:21).  I was able to bear my testimony that I know this is true and that Uncle at this time is in good company with my Abuelito Salva and Grandma Betty who passed away a few years ago and Achilles—my cousins’ dog, whom I loved so much.  I reminded my Tia Elia that now Uncle is free of physical pain. 

    I am grateful for the Fowlks family, for giving me the opportunity to share my love. 🙏❤. My thoughts and prayers go out to them at his time. It is of most importance to always know that we are not here on this earth forever. We are sent here to learn and grow and complete a purpose which is to become more like God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

    I wish I were there to support the family, but this is not the time. I am about to hit my 6 months mark this March 27th. Can y’all believe that! I remember just barely getting off the plane to meet my Mission President and his wife.  I am grateful for the time I have had to be out here. This experience is shaping me into the person I would like to become.  Life in the mission is hard but the friends you meet and people you talk to help you grow and achieve greater things in life. Thanks for being the best and continue to do so. I love you all and talk to you soon 💛

    Striving without Shrinking

  • Hola a todos!!!!! This week was awesome because I had an up-close-and-personal encounter with Heavenly Father’s and Jesus Christ’s creations.  Yesterday on P-Day (Preparation Day), we went to the Phoenix Zoo, which is the largest privately owned, non-profit zoo in the United States. It was amazing to see all the awe-inspiring animals our Father and Christ have made. One of my favorites was the Bobcat. It’s mind-blowing to me to see how each animal has its own personality. I enjoyed my visit tremendously and left the zoo feeling grateful for this opportunity to enjoy myself.

    We have continued teaching a few kids.  Last week we taught The Plan of Salvation lesson to a small family too. As I finished talking about the three kingdoms of glory, I asked Damion, the kid we are teaching the following: “So is Baptism something you want to work towards?” He said “YES” with great excitement! In my whole entire life, so far, I have never seen such an excited child want to have the blessings and be baptized to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Every time we share with him the principles of the gospel, he explains to us that he loves Church, and that he learns a lot as well. I am so happy for him because he is having the opportunity to enjoy the company of the Holy Ghost constantly as he continues to learn how to pray, read the scriptures and obey the commandments. 

    We are all in many ways just like Him, we are children of our Heavenly Father learning about prayer, scriptures, commandments, and all His creations. The Mission is a great experience to have because it gives you the opportunity to remember who you are and share this knowledge. Also, the mission field is a place where you learn how to steer clear of negative things, feelings, thoughts and actions as you focus on serving and sharing the pearl of great price: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46). I invite you to CHOOSE to come out and SERVE those who have not had a chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

    I am grateful for and pray for each one of you! It’s so good to get letters from family members and emails as well. It brings me great joy to know that there truly is a loving Heavenly Father and that He has given us the blessing to return to Him through the merits of Christ our Lord.  Thanks for the love and support ❤

    BUENE SUERTE MI FAMILIA!

    Finding Joy in God’s Creations